After gaining a reputation throughout northern italy as a preacher and theologian, he was provincial of lombardy 126778 and 128186 and archbishop of the. It is impossible to understand the late middle ages without grasping the importance of the golden legend, the most popular medieval collection of saints lives. Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of both factual and fictional stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. Golden legend repeats the story of his rescuing a libyan kings daughter from a dragon and then slaying the monster in return for a promise by the kings subjects to be baptized. In his new translation, the first in modern english of the complete text from the graesse edition, william granger ryan captures the immediacy of this rich.
He entered the order of the friars preachers of st dominic in 1244, and besides preaching with success in many parts of italy, taught in the schools of his own fraternity. It was likely compiled around the year 1260, although the text was added to over the centuries. It is impossible to understand the middle ages without grasping the importance of the golden legend, the most popular medieval collection of saints lives. The golden legend, an extensive collection of saints biographies, became one of the bestselling books of the late medieval period. The golden legend voragine wikisource, the free online.
The golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. It was likely compiled around the years 12591266, although the text was added to over the centuries. From 1470 to 1530 it was also the most often printed book in europe. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda aurea, the golden legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was one of the most popular religious works. It was interesting to learn saints with names that i never knew of. How the golden legend shaped the medieval imagination. Golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. In 1244 he entered the dominican order and at the age of 22 became a. Yet, it was the bestseller of the middle ages, a period during which hagiographies, i. Mar 31, 2014 in search of sacred time is the first comprehensive history and interpretation of this crucial book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Apr 22, 2012 depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. In4, incunable, plein maroquin rouge, dos richement ornes aux petits fers, titre dore, reliure posterieure, 1 fnc, 156 pp en gros car. In search of sacred time princeton university press.
He became a dominican in 1244, was provincial of lombardy, and after 1292 was archbishop of genoa. In 1244 he entered the dominican order and at the age of 22 became a professor. Caxton, william, approximately 14221491, translator. Art in tuscany the golden legend legenda aurea or legenda. Jerome writeth, was in the time of decius and valerianus, emperors, the year of the incarnation of our lord two hundred and fiftysix. Thanks to the efforts of robert blackmon, the medieval sourcebook can. By 1500, there were more copies of it in circulation than it is impossible to understand the late middle ages without grasping the importance of the golden legend, the most popular medieval. He was a storyteller and that may well be the reason his hagiography has endured.
Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of both factual and fictional storiessome preposterous, some profound, and some shockingthe golden legend was. He entered the order of the friars preachers of st dominic in 1244, and besides preaching with success in many parts of. In his new translation, the first in modern english of the complete text from the graesse edition, william granger ryan captures the immediacy of this rich, imagefilled work, and offers an important guide. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda aurea, the golden legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was. Cochrane published by princeton university press 20140223 2014. Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories,the golden legendwas perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda aurea, the golden legend, a collection of the legendary lives of. Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the. Jacques le goff, one of the worlds most renowned medievalists, provides a lucid, compelling, and unparalleled account of why and how the golden legend exerted such a profound influence on medieval life. Jacques le goff, one of the worlds most renowned medievalists, provides a lucid, compelling, and unparalleled account of why and how the golden legend exerted such. Trn, isbn 0691204543, isbn 9780691204543, like new used, free shipping in the us. By the 15th century, editions of voragines golden legend were available in every major european language. The golden legend is one of the central texts of the middle ages, a superb summary of saints lives and religious festivals which decisively influenced the imagery of poetry. See the golden legend main pageindex for other volumes or chapter length files.
More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived. After gaining a reputation throughout northern italy as a preacher and theologian, he was provincial of lombardy 126778 and 128186 and archbishop of the independent city. Golden legend project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Englished by william caxton, first edition 1483, edited by f. It was one of the first books william caxton printed in the english language.