The Written Word in Early Medieval England

Kent, Mercia and Wessex, c. 830-920

By: Robert Gallagher

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Hardcover | 11 June 2026

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Hardcover
420 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.5 x 16.1 x 2.9

Hardcover

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This book presents an innovative, holistic examination of the uses of the written word in early medieval England during a century of political and societal upheaval, culminating in the emergence of the kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons under Alfred the Great and his children, Æthelflaed and Edward the Elder. Through a diverse range of documentary, literary and material evidence, Robert Gallagher explains how literary activity during this period - particularly involving members of the laity - has often been underestimated. He focuses on several innovations in documentary culture that took place in the mid-ninth century, which in turn played a significant role in establishing the cultural conditions for Alfredian cultural renewal. The evidence makes clear that limited personal literacy did not pose a barrier to participation in literary activity. This study thus makes a major new contribution to our understanding of England's ninth- and tenth-century history.

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