Mary Clayton Libri

The book features two Old English versions of the legend of St Margaret of Antioch, highlighting her significance as a medieval virgin martyr and patron saint of childbirth. It includes a facing translation and commentary, along with an in-depth introduction covering background sources, manuscript states, and the evolution of St Margaret's cult in Anglo-Saxon England. Additionally, it presents fragments of a third version and a Latin text, enabling readers to explore the early reception history and cultural impact of these texts in late Anglo-Saxon society.

Focusing on the cult of the Virgin Mary in England from around 700 to the Conquest, this book uncovers the development of Marian devotion during the late seventh and eighth centuries, particularly during the Benedictine reform. It highlights Mary's role as the patron saint of reformed monastic houses and examines Anglo-Saxon feasts, liturgical texts, prayers, art, and literature. This detailed exploration provides valuable insights into church history and Anglo-Saxon culture, making it a significant resource for scholars in literature, art history, and theology.

The book offers a comprehensive edition and translation of three apocryphal gospels attributed to Mary, presented in Old English. It includes insightful commentary that explores the historical and theological significance of these texts, shedding light on their unique perspectives within early Christian literature. This work is essential for those interested in biblical studies and the role of Mary in religious narratives.

Religious piety has rarely been animated as vigorously as in Old English Poems of Christ and His Saints. Ranging from lyrical to dramatic to narrative and showing great inventiveness, this title features ten anonymous poems demonstrating the extraordinary hybrid that emerges when traditional Germanic verse adapts itself to Christian themes.