St Edmund, King and Martyr: Changing Images of a Medieval Saint (York Medieval Press) [Hardcover]

Anthony Bale (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1903153263 | ISBN-13: 978-1903153260

St Edmund, king and martyr, supposedly killed by Danes (or `Vikings') in 869, was one of the pre-eminent saints of the middle ages; his cult was favoured and patronised by several English kings and spawned a rich array of visual, literary, musical and political artefacts. Celebrated throughout England, especially at the abbey of Bury St Edmunds, it also inspired separate cults in France, Iceland and Italy. The essays in this collection offer a range of readings from a variety of disciplines - literature, history, music, art history - and of sources - chronicles, poems, theological material - providing an overview of the multi-faceted nature of St Edmund's cult, from the ninth century to the early modern period. They demonstrate the openness and dynamism of a medieval saint's cult, showing how the saint's image could be used in many and changing contexts: Edmund's image was bent to various political and propagandistic ends, often articulating conflicting messages and ideals, negotiating identity, politics and belief. CONTRIBUTORS: ANTHONY BALE, CARL PHELPSTEAD, ALISON FINLAY, PAUL ANTONY HAYWARD, LISA COLTON, REBECCA PINNER, A. S. G. EDWARDS, ALEXANDRA GILLESPIE

Editorial Reviews

Review

The consistently high standard of the articles found here make this book a mandatory addition to the shelves of readers interested in St Edmund. However, its broad chronological and geographical range, together with its generous scope of enquiry, means that it deserves a wider readership. Anyone looking for thought-provoking approaches to the study of changing attitudes toward medieval cults, and how these attitudes were materially reflected, should also be encouraged to take a look. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW

Product Details

• Hardcover: 214 pages
• Publisher: York Medieval Press (August 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903153263
• ISBN-13: 978-1903153260
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,511,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)