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Workshop · Course
Online Course: Discovering Medieval Manuscripts
Talk
Medieval manuscripts are touchstones of human history: priceless not only for the texts they contain but for the stories they accrue through time. Today, a few of these manuscripts are well known; others are hidden gems; many more linger only as ghosts. Each has a story to tell.Through the six weeks of this online course we invite you to meet some of the treasures of the British Library’s medieval manuscript collection, stretching from the first inklings of literacy in England through to the great flourishings of later medieval written culture. We’ll consider the unique nature of manuscript production, the many hands and materials involved in the creation of a manuscript, and the long afterlives – and sometimes deaths – that follow. We’ll delve into the manuscripts’ visual cues and mise-en-page, the interplay of word and image, the stylistic choices made by scribes and illuminators. And we’ll explore the use of text and language on the manuscript page, reading works written in both Old and Middle English, as well as Latin. Along the way, we’ll encounter miracles and monsters, marauding Vikings and courtly lovers, and much more.No prior knowledge is needed and translations will be provided as required.This course takes place on Microsoft Teams. The joining information will be emailed to you in advance of each session. Sessions are recorded and uploaded to the Course Padlet, and can be watched back at your leisure.Access to the Course Padlet is available until Tuesday 17 November 2026.
Where to see it
96 Euston Road
Tue 8 Sept
12:30
Medieval manuscripts are touchstones of human history: priceless not only for the texts they contain but for the stories they accrue through time. Today, a few of these manuscripts are well known; others are hidden gems; many more linger only as ghosts. Each has a story to tell.Through the six weeks of this online course we invite you to meet some of the treasures of the British Library’s medieval manuscript collection, stretching from the first inklings of literacy in England through to the great flourishings of later medieval written culture. We’ll consider the unique nature of manuscript production, the many hands and materials involved in the creation of a manuscript, and the long afterlives – and sometimes deaths – that follow. We’ll delve into the manuscripts’ visual cues and mise-en-page, the interplay of word and image, the stylistic choices made by scribes and illuminators. And we’ll explore the use of text and language on the manuscript page, reading works written in both Old and Middle English, as well as Latin. Along the way, we’ll encounter miracles and monsters, marauding Vikings and courtly lovers, and much more.No prior knowledge is needed and translations will be provided as required.This course takes place on Microsoft Teams. The joining information will be emailed to you in advance of each session. Sessions are recorded and uploaded to the Course Padlet, and can be watched back at your leisure.Access to the Course Padlet is available until Tuesday 17 November 2026.
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