Repurposing Literary Romance Texts in Medieval Manuscripts

Transcribing a text within a Medieval manuscript was often not a culturally and ideologically neutral act. The lack of direct control by the authors over the circulation of their works allowed scribes to employ particularly refined strategies aimed at assigning new functions and meanings to these texts, which might appear very different from the original to the readers. This could be achieved in various ways, such as manipulating the configuration of the manuscript, creating or emphasising textual connections within organised collections, exploiting paratexts, or making more significant alterations to the text itself.

This volume provides an overview of the primary ways in which textual repurposing and the consequent guiding of the reader are achieved within the manuscript tradition of Medieval Romance literary texts. Each method is described and exemplified through detailed analysis of particularly significant cases, which not only offer interesting insights into the perception of authorship in this literary context but also reveal unexpected ways through which manuscript compilers revitalise and enhance the communication of the works they handle.

This book will be of interest to readers of Romance Medieval literature, Medieval manuscript culture, and material philology.

Stefano Resconi is an Associate Professor of Romance Philology and Linguistics at the Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. His primary research interests include the comparative study of Medieval Romance lyric traditions – particularly focusing on the manuscript transmission, linguistic contacts, and interferences with other genres – the Italian reception of Medieval French and Provençal literary culture, and the sources of Dante’s poetry.