Fragmentology and the Medieval Book

Aimed at students, educators, librarians, and collectors, this volume explores the discipline of Fragmentology—the study of medieval manuscript fragments ranging from the smallest initials to substantial remnants. Like the medieval books they come from, fragments are unique cultural artifacts offering opportunities for innovative teaching and research. The introduction conveys the history of manuscript fragmentation and its motivations: obsolescence, scholarship, and commerce. Individual chapters focus on fragment theory and the practical skills required to study fragments: forensic description, textual identification, provenance research, and palaeographical and codicological analyses. Digital tools are presented as complementary means to traditional approaches. Through case studies, the authors emphasize the medieval genres most commonly encountered like bibles, books of hours, and liturgical books.

David T. Gura is Curator of Ancient and Medieval Manuscripts at the University of Notre Dame and Concurrent Professor of Classics and Medieval Studies. He specializes in Latin palaeography, manuscript studies, and the medieval commentary traditions of classical texts.

Scott J. Gwara, Professor of English at the University of South Carolina since 1994, specializes in medieval and Renaissance European manuscripts, Old and Middle English language and literature, and pre-Conquest Latin learning in the British Isles.