The Old English Translation of Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum in its Historical and Cultural ContextDid King Alfred the Great commission the Old English translation of Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, probably the masterpiece of medieval Anglo-Latin Literature, as part of his famous program of translation to educate the Anglo-Saxons? Was the Old English Historia, by any chance, a political and religious manifesto for the emerging ‘Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons’? Do we deal with the literary cornerstone of a nascent English identity at a time when the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were threatened by a common enemy: the Vikings? Andreas Lemke seeks to answer these questions – among others – in his recent publication. He presents us with a unique compendium of interdisciplinary approaches to the subject and sheds new light on the Old English translation of the Historia in a way that will fascinate scholars of Literature, Language, Philology and History. |
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addition Ages Alfred Alfred’s analysis Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon England Anglorum appears argued aspects Asser assume audience authority Bately becomes Bede Bede’s bishop Book Britain British Britons Cambridge Canterbury century chapter Christian Church claim close concept connection context conversion copy cultural dialect early evidence example fact faith further gens given gives glosses HEGA Homilies idea identity important interest Irish King kingdom language Latin learning letter Library London manuscripts means medieval Mercian ninth Northumbria OEHE Old English translator omitted original Oxford papacy passage Pastoral political preface present probably question reference regard religious remarks rendered role Roman Rome Rowley rule scribe seems shows similar story style Tanner term Text and trans tion tradition turn vernacular Viking wæs West Saxon written þæt