The Wanderings and Homes of Manuscripts: Manuscripts Through Time: Medieval Book Culture, Provenance, Libraries, and the Survival of Knowledge

In *The Wanderings and Homes of Manuscripts*, M. R. James examines the often intricate histories by which medieval books were produced, transmitted, dispersed, collected, and ultimately preserved in libraries. Combining codicological observation with the narrative gifts of an antiquary, he treats manuscripts not as inert texts but as historical objects whose bindings, annotations, ownership inscriptions, and changing locations illuminate the intellectual and institutional life of Europe. The work belongs to the great tradition of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century English manuscript scholarship, while its emphasis on provenance anticipates modern approaches to book history and the study of cultural heritage. Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) was among Britain's most distinguished medievalists, a scholar of illuminated manuscripts, a cataloguer of Cambridge collections, and Provost of King's College, Cambridge. His extensive experience inspecting manuscripts firsthand gave him an exceptional understanding of how libraries, monasteries, private collectors, auctions, and national institutions shaped the survival and interpretation of medieval books. His characteristic precision, learning, and sensitivity to historical detail inform every page. This volume will reward readers interested in medieval history, palaeography, bibliography, and the social life of books. It is especially valuable for students and researchers seeking to understand provenance as evidence, yet its vivid sense of discovery makes it accessible to anyone fascinated by the journeys of rare books across centuries and continents.

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E-bog: 12. december 2023