Thomas Becket and His Biographers

Staunton, Michael

ISBN 10: 1843832712 / ISBN 13: 9781843832713

Published by Boydell Press, 2006

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 4319386-n

Bibliographic Details

Title: Thomas Becket and His Biographers

Publisher: Boydell Press

Publication Date: 2006

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis:

In the wake of his murder in December 1170, an extraordinarily large number of Lives of Thomas Becket were produced.They provide an invaluable witness to the life and death of Thomas and the dramatic events in which he was involved, but they are also works of great literary value, more complex and sophisticated than has been recognised. This book, the first to be devoted to the biographers and their works, consists of an examination the individual Lives, followed by an analysis of the biographers' treatment of the major themes in Thomas's life - conversion, conflict, trial, exile and martyrdom - in the light of contemporary hagiographical, historical and theological writing and canon law. It raises points of major significance for the study of intellectual and literary life in the central middle ages and provides an important reassessment of the Becket conflict and Thomas Becket himself. Dr MICHAEL STAUNTON is Lecturer in Medieval History, School of History and Archives, University College Dublin.

About the Author:

Dr MICHAEL STAUNTON is Lecturer in Medieval History, School of History and Archives, University College Dublin.