Aelfric and the cult of saints in late Anglo-Saxon England
By: Mechthild Gretsch.
Series: Cambridge studies in Anglo-Saxon England ;; 34
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 277
ISBN-13: 9780521855419
Subjects: Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham; Christian hagiography -- History -- To 1500; Christian saints -- Cult -- England -- History -- To 1500
Description: "In this study, Gretsch analyses Aelfric's Lives of five important saints in the light of their cults in Anglo-Saxon England, namely Gregory, the Roman pope; Benedict, the founder of western Monasticism; Cuthbert, the Northumbrian saint; Swithun of Winchester; and Aethelthryth of Ely. This analysis gives the reader glimpses of 'Aelfric at work': he adapts the cults and rewrites the received Latin hagiography of the five saints, with the result that each of their English Lives conveys a distinct message to the contemporary political elite and to a lay audience at large."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Aelfric's Sanctorale and the Benedictional of Aethelwold; title: Gregory : the apostle of the English; title: Cuthbert : from Northumbrian saint to saint of all England; title: Benedict : father of monks; title: and what else?; title: Swithun and Aethelthryth : two "saints of our days".