Discovering William of Malmesbury

Review

[A] thought-provoking collection which makes a significant contribution to our understanding not only of William of Malmesbury's life and works, but also of twelfth-century historical writing and intellectual history, as well as broader aspects of the Anglo-Norman world such as national identity and kingship. ― HISTORY

A rewarding book for scholars of twelfth-century England. The book lives up to its title, the innovative approaches to William's life and works it contains proposing new discoveries, even for those already familiar with William's legacy. ― PARERGON

The editors of this volume and its contributors deserve significant praise for assembling a collection of thought-provoking chapters, which not only help us to understand better the life and writings of William of Malmesbury, but which should also find relevance within the wider field of Anglo-Norman studies, the study and writing of history during the Middle Ages, and numerous additional topics besides. ― REVIEWS IN HISTORY

Product Description

A fresh look at William of Malmesbury which not only demonstrates his real greatness as a historian and his European vision, but also the breadth of his learning across a number of other disciplines.

In the past William of Malmesbury (1090-1143) has been seen as first and foremost a historian of England, and little else. This volume reveals not only William's real greatness as a historian and his European vision, but also thebreadth and depth of his learning across a number of other fields. Areas that receive particular attention are William's historical writings, his historical vision and interpretation of England's past; William and kingship; William's language; William's medical knowledge; the influence of Bede and other ancient writers on William's historiography; William and chronology; William, Anselm of Canterbury and reform of the English Church; William and the LatinClassics; William and the Jews; and William as hagiographer.
Overall, the volume offers a broad coverage of William's learning, wide-ranging interests and significance as revealed in his writings.

Rodney M. Thomson is Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Tasmania; Emily Dolmans is a lecturer in English Literature at Jesus College and Oriel College, University of Oxford; Emily A. Winkler is the John Cowdrey Junior Research Fellow in Medieval History at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, and Departmental Lecturer in Medieval History.

Contributors: Anne E. Bailey, Emily Dolmans, Daniel Gerrard, John Gillingham, Kati Ihnat, Ryan Kemp, William Kynan-Wilson, Anne Lawrence-Mathers, Stanislav Mereminskiy, Samu Niskanen, Joanna Phillips, Alheydis Plassmann, Sigbjørn Sønnesyn, Rodney M. Thomson, Emily Joan Ward, Emily A. Winkler, Michael Winterbottom.

About the Author

RODNEY M. THOMSON is Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Tasmania.

EMILY DOLMANS is a lecturer in Medieval Literature at the University of East Anglia

EMILY A. WINKLER is a Fellow of St Edmund Hall and member of the History Faculty at the University Oxford.