Author Description
Medieval English Travel: A Critical Anthology is a comprehensive volume that consists of three sections: concise introductory essays written by leading specialists; an anthology of important and less well-known texts, grouped by destination; and a selection of supporting bibliographies organised by type of voyage. This anthology presents some texts for the first time in a modern edition. The first section consists of six companion essays on 'Places, Real and Imagined', 'Maps the Organsiation of Space', 'Encounters', 'Languages and Codes', 'Trade and Exchange', and 'Politics and Diplomacy'. The organising principle for the anthology is one of expansive geography. Starting with local English narratives, the section moves to France, en-route destinations, the Holy Land, and the Far East. In total, the anthology contains 26 texts or extracts, including new editions of Floris & Blancheflour, The Stacions of Rome, The Libelle of Englyshe Polycye, and Chaucer's Squire's Tale, in addition to less familiar texts, such as Osbern Bokenham's Mappula Angliae, John Kay's Siege of Rhodes 1480, and Richard Torkington's Diaries of Englysshe Travell. The supporting bibliographies, in turn, take a functional approach to travel, and support the texts by elucidating contexts for travel and travellers in five areas: 'commercial voyages', 'diplomatic and military travel', 'maps, rutters, and charts', 'practical needs', and 'religious voyages'.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the multifaceted nature of medieval English travel by examining how physical movement, cultural exchange, and geographical perception shaped the identity of the period. The text compiles contributions from leading specialists to provide a structured framework for understanding the motivations and realities of travelers during the Middle Ages. By integrating primary source material with analytical essays, the work argues that travel was a complex activity defined by trade, diplomacy, and religious devotion.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Six introductory essays covering themes such as trade, diplomacy, and the organization of space.
- An anthology of 26 primary texts and extracts, including both canonical works and lesser-known manuscripts.
- Five thematic bibliographies categorized by the functional purpose of travel.
Scope Limits
- The collection focuses specifically on English perspectives and narratives rather than a global history of travel.
- The analysis is limited to the medieval period, excluding early modern developments in exploration.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of medieval literature frequently cite this anthology as a valuable resource for its inclusion of rare texts and modern editions. Experts highlight the work as a foundational reference for those researching the intersection of geography, politics, and cultural exchange in medieval England.
Page Count:
528
Publication Date:
2019-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0192662058
ISBN-13:
9780192662057
History
Travel
Anthology
British History
Literary Criticism
English
English & College Success
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