Author Description
The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731 AD) is Bede's most famous work. As well as providing the authoritative Colgrave translation of the Ecclesiastical History, this edition includes a new translation of the Greater Chronicle, in which Bede examines the Roman Empire and contemporary Europe. His Letter to Egbert gives his final reflections on the English Church just before his death, and all three texts here are further illuminated by a detailed introduction and explanatory notes. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
Bede investigates the development of the Christian Church in England and the formation of the English people as a unified cultural and religious entity. The author, a Northumbrian monk and scholar, synthesizes hagiography, political records, and oral tradition to construct a narrative framework that legitimizes the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. By documenting the spread of Christianity from the Roman mission of Augustine to his own time, Bede establishes a historical precedent for the identity of the English Church.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comprehensive account of the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to Christianity.
- The Greater Chronicle, providing a broader context of the Roman Empire and contemporary Europe.
- The Letter to Egbert, containing Bede's final ecclesiastical reflections.
- Scholarly apparatus including detailed introductions and explanatory notes.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on ecclesiastical and political history, omitting extensive details on the daily lives of the common peasantry.
- The narrative is filtered through a specific theological lens, prioritizing religious developments over secular socio-economic data.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars regard this work as the foundational text for understanding early medieval England and the primary source for the period. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the necessity of the provided explanatory notes to navigate the complex historical references.
Page Count:
496
Publication Date:
1999-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191606014
ISBN-13:
9780191606014
History
Religion
British History
Christianity
European History
Community Tags
Similar Books
