The Life of King Edward Who Rests at Westminster
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Author Description
The anonymous Life of King Edward written about the time of the Norman Conquest, is an important and intriguing source for the history of Anglo-Saxon England in the years just before 1066. It provides a fascinating account of Edward the Confessor and his family, including his wife Edith, his father-in-law Earl Godwin, and the queen's brothers Tostig and Harold (who became king in 1066). The foundations of the legend of St. Edward the Confessor are apparent from the version of the work supplied by the unique manuscript of circa 1100. Barlow explores the problems raised by this anonymous and now incomplete manuscript and examines the development of the cult of St. Edward. He also investigates the life and works of Goscelin of St. Bertin, a possible author. For this second edition, Barlow has not only undertaken a complete revision of the book, but recent discoveries have enabled him to reconstruct in part the lacunae in BL Harley MS 526 with texts closer to the original.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the historical significance and authorship of the anonymous 'Vita Ædwardi Regis', a primary source documenting the reign of Edward the Confessor. Frank Barlow, a distinguished historian of the Anglo-Saxon period, utilizes the unique manuscript evidence from circa 1100 to analyze the political climate of England leading up to the Norman Conquest. He presents a rigorous examination of the text's provenance, the potential involvement of Goscelin of St. Bertin, and the emergence of the cult of St. Edward within the royal family's narrative.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the political dynamics between Edward the Confessor, Edith, and the Godwin family.
- Examination of the historical context surrounding the events of 1066.
- Scholarly reconstruction of lacunae in the British Library Harley MS 526.
- Investigation into the hagiographic development of the St. Edward legend.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians regard this edition as a foundational text for understanding the transition from Anglo-Saxon rule to the Norman era. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the meticulous nature of Barlow's textual reconstruction.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
1992-08-27
Publisher:
Clarendon Press
ISBN-10:
0198202032
ISBN-13:
9780198202035
Biography
History
Religion
Anglo-Saxons
British History
