A Guide to Western Historical Scripts from Antiquity to 1600 [Hardcover]

Michelle P. Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1990

A survey of the evolution of scripts and a guide to reading historical documents illustrated from a wide range of manuscripts. Fifty-five full-page plates give examples of the major western scripts in broadly chronological sequence, each accompanied by a commentary indentifying the type of script, its historical and regional currency, distinctive features and style, and a transcription. Michelle Brown is a curator in the department of manuscripts at The British Library. She has taught courses in Paleography and History at the University of London and at the Library.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'What the book represents, in essence, is a mini correspondence course in palaeography. ... In a clear and coherent manner, moreover, Brown describes the function of various national hands and how they developed one from the other. ...An untrained student or interested researcher might use the texts and transcriptions as a means of developing expertise before embarking on a program of research'

(Epilogue/Epilogue )

'It is a pleasure to read so successful a popularizing account, accurate, well-balanced and succinct, together with an excellent selection of illustrations from the famous as well as the less familiar of the surviving Anglo-Saxon manuscripts.'

(Times Literary Supplement )

"The book should be in the hands of every classicist ...It has no rival here or abroad.'

(Bryn Mawr Classical Review ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Michelle P. Brown is a curator of Western Manuscripts in the British Library and author of several books, including A Guide to Western Historical Scripts and The Book of Cerne.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Toronto Pr (July 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802058663
• ISBN-13: 978-0802058669
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,684,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference tool, July 30, 2006

By 

Dame Droiture (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: A Guide to Western Historical Scripts from Antiquity to 1600 (Hardcover)

Michelle Brown's book is a must-have for the beginning student of paleography or codicology. It includes full-page (generally readable) photos of manuscripts which demonstrate characteristics of certain medieval scripts by country, region, and date - with facing page transcriptions and explanations. There are a few minor mistakes and questionable areas, such as her p. 26 transcription of the half-uncial (probably a typo), and p. 130 transcription of the humanistic book script (also probably a typo). The book is best utilized in conjunction with a course in either paleography, codicology, or both, and then mainly as a preliminary reference tool for rough-dating or localization. Pay attention to the details, for similar scripts (like the various gothics) can get tricky.

5.0 out of 5 stars Paleographer's Best Friend, September 5, 2011

By 

tad - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Guide to Western Historical Scripts from Antiquity to 1600 (Paperback)

Michelle Brown has gathered examples from just about all of the Classical, Late Antique, and medieval Latin book-hands, from the extremely difficult-to-decipher Roman cursive to the all-too-clear Caroline Minuscule. Good introductions are offered for each script as well as copious notes on scribal errors/alterations, distinctive traits, and decorative elements. Each example displays a plate of a particular script on the right-hand page and a description/identification on the left. Also, there is a brief transcription (about 15-20 lines) on the left with all the words separated and the abbreviations expanded. Subject matter ranges from Virgil to biblical passages, with many things in-between. This is a must have for the student taking a paleography course or just interested in medieval book culture. Also recommended: Barbara Shailor, the Medieval Book.