
The Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery
Oxford University Press
Published on 19. August 1999
Book
Hardback
296 pages
978-0-19-820330-8 (ISBN)
Description
The monastery of Walden was founded c.1136 by Geoffrey de Mandeville, a prominent baron in the civil war of Stephen's reign. Its site just outside the town of Saffron Walden in Essex is now occupied by the great Jacobean mansion known as Audley End House. The Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery, written by a Walden monk soon after 1203, is here printed in its entirety for the first time. This lively narrative relates the history of the Mandeville earls of Essex and the inheritance of their lands and title by King John's justiciar, Geoffrey fitz Peter. The monk-author describes the development of the priory at Walden and its elevation to the status of a Benedictine abbey in 1190, and in the final section of the work he traces the consequent conflict with Geoffrey fitz Peter, concluding the story with the death of Abbot Reginald in 1200 or 1203. The interest of The Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery extends far beyond the local: the editors' introduction and notes establish its position as a valuable historical source.
Reviews / Votes
This first complete edition of the "Book of Walden" offers valuable insights into the relations between monasteries and their noble founders in the twelfth century * Medium Aevum, vol.LXX 2001 * required reading for all historians of this period as well as providing the most stimulating possible introduction to English monastic history for undergraduates. * Brian Golding, Ecclesiastical History, vol.52/2, April 2001 * the author's resonant biblical Latin is analysed and indexed, and felicitously translated ... this is a satisfying edition of a fascinating text. * Benjamin Thompson, EHR, April 2001 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
2 figures
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
551 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-820330-8 (9780198203308)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited and translated
Professor of Medieval HistoryProfessor of Medieval History, Institute of Historical Research, University of London