Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
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Monday, July 21, 2008
Can anyone suggest...
if one were interested in learning more about very early Christian history in Britain and Ireland, whom to read? Apart, that is, from the likes of Bede. Any good modern scholars of the period from AD 400 to 900 or so?
I'm about to read Fr Conrad Pepler's work on The English Religious Heritage - mainly on mediaeval Christianity. But he refers to Dom Louis Gougaud: 'Christianity in Celtic Lands' and names this a classic work on the subject.
Sir Frank Stenton's Anglo-Saxon England is probably dated, I found it a good overall history of England from the Adventus Saxonum until Hastings. Also, a good copy of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle and Asser's Life of Alfred are must-haves. An obscure but interesting work is Gildas' "On the Ruin of Britain," written by a British monk who excoriated the Celtic leaders of the early Sixth Century. Almost infuriating in a way because he hints at a lot of the history without addressing it. Instead, he rips the current leadership up one side and down another.
Be advised, though, that you are not going to find much for the period of 400-600 for Britain. Britannia was the Roman province where the Dark Age fell darkest, and trying to piece anything coherent together has frustrated historians for generations. Barring major archaelogical finds, it will probably stay that way.
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I'm about to read Fr Conrad Pepler's work on The English Religious Heritage - mainly on mediaeval Christianity. But he refers to Dom Louis Gougaud: 'Christianity in Celtic Lands' and names this a classic work on the subject.
ReplyDeleteChristopher Dawson is a good read and has plenty to say about Britain and Ireland in his histories of medieval Western Europe.
ReplyDeleteYou could try "The Coming of Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England" by Henry Mayr-Harting. Covers 597-750.
ReplyDeleteSir Frank Stenton's Anglo-Saxon England is probably dated, I found it a good overall history of England from the Adventus Saxonum until Hastings. Also, a good copy of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle and Asser's Life of Alfred are must-haves. An obscure but interesting work is Gildas' "On the Ruin of Britain," written by a British monk who excoriated the Celtic leaders of the early Sixth Century. Almost infuriating in a way because he hints at a lot of the history without addressing it. Instead, he rips the current leadership up one side and down another.
ReplyDeleteBe advised, though, that you are not going to find much for the period of 400-600 for Britain. Britannia was the Roman province where the Dark Age fell darkest, and trying to piece anything coherent together has frustrated historians for generations. Barring major archaelogical finds, it will probably stay that way.
Thanks guys. I knew y'all would come through.
ReplyDelete