Customer Reviews

The Book of Kells: Its Function and Audience (British Library Studies in Medieval Culture)

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Farr's book is a well-written and important contribution to the study of the Book of Kells. Her analysis of image placement, image detail, liturgical context, and historical context provides a comprehensive base for her arguments. Moreover, the arguments are supported by contemporary Kells scholars as well as early exegetical writers such as Bede, Tertullian, Tyconius, Augustine, and Maximus of Turin. Farr certainly breaks new ground in her analysis of Folio 114r and provides a believable explanation for its placement and function. Farr also revises older liturgical interpretations of the manuscript and extends them to consider the manuscript's use during the office as opposed to its use during the mass. The style and language that Farr uses indicates that this work is intended for medieval scholars with some background in the insular tradition. I would add that a less experienced scholar should be able to understand the material, although he should have ready access to a Latin dictionary, an English dictionary, and perhaps Michelle Brown's Understanding Medieval Manuscripts: A Guide to Technical Terms. Nevertheless, Farr's book presents a fascinating analysis of a manuscript that has mesmerized the world for hundreds of years. I would recommend this book to any one interested in the Book of Kells, insular manuscripts, and/or illuminated texts. Additionally, I would recommend it to anyone interested in early church history and practice. I believe that Farr has more than accomplished her stated goal and has comprehensively expanded the collective understanding of a text traditionally considered to be a mystery.

This book is one of the finest, most complete studies of the Book of Kells that I have ever read. Dr. Farr is a true scholar!