Anextraordinaryandbeautifullyillustratedexplorationofthemedievalworldthroughtwelvemanuscripts,fromoneoftheworld’sleadingexperts.WinnerofTheWolfsonHistoryPrizeandTheDuffCooperPrize.ASanFranciscoChronicleHolidayBookGiftGuidePick!MeetingswithRemarkableManuscriptsisacaptivatingexaminationoftwelveilluminatedmanuscriptsfromthemedievalperiod.NotedauthorityChristopherdeHamelinvitesthereaderintointimateconversationswiththesetextstoexplorewhattheytellusaboutnearlyathousandyearsofmedievalhistory-andaboutthemodernworld,too.Insodoing,deHamelintroducesustokings,queens,saints,scribes,artists,librarians,thieves,dealers,andcollectors.Hetracestheelaboratejourneysthattheseexceptionallypreciousartifactshavemadethroughtimeandshowsushowtheyhavebeencopied,howtheyhavebeenembroiledinpolitics,howtheyhavebeenregardedasobjectsofsupremebeautyandassymbolsofnationalidentity,andwhohasownedthemorlustedafterthem(andhowwecantell).FromtheearliestbookinmedievalEnglandtotheincomparableBookofKellstotheoldestmanuscriptoftheCanterburyTales,theseencounterstellanarrativeofintellectualcultureandartoverthecourseofamillennium.TwoofthemanuscriptsvisitedarenowinlibrariesofNorthAmerica,theMorganLibraryinNewYorkandtheGettyMuseuminLosAngeles.Parttravelbook,partdetectivestory,partconversationwiththereader,MeetingswithRemarkableManuscriptsallowsustoexperiencesomeofthegreatestworksofartinourculturetogiveusadifferentperspectiveonhistoryandonhowwecomebyknowledge.
queens MEETINGS REMARKABLE QUEENS
