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Christopher De Hamel
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The Posthumous Papers of the Manuscripts Club Hardcover – 27 Oct. 2022

by Christopher de Hamel (Author)
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The illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages are among the greatest works of European art and literature. We are dazzled by them and recognize their crucial role in the transmission of knowledge. But we generally think much less about the countless men and women who made, collected and preserved them through the centuries, and to whom they owe their existence.

This entrancing book describes some of the extraordinary people who have spent their lives among illuminated manuscripts over the last thousand years. A monk in Normandy, a prince of France, a Florentine bookseller, an English antiquary, a rabbi from central Europe, a French priest, a Keeper at the British Museum, a Greek forger, a German polymath, a British connoisseur and the woman who created the most spectacular library in America - all of them were participants in what Christopher de Hamel calls the Manuscripts Club.

This exhilarating fraternity, and the fellow enthusiasts who come with it, throw new light on how manuscripts have survived and been used by very different kinds of people in many different circumstances. Christopher de Hamel's unexpected connections and discoveries reveal a passion which crosses the boundaries of time. We understand the manuscripts themselves better by knowing who their keepers and companions have been.

In 1850 (or thereabouts) John Ruskin bought his first manuscript 'at a bookseller's in a back alley'. This was his reaction: 'The new worlds which every leaf of this book opened to me, and the joy I had in counting their letters and unravelling their arabesques as if they had all been of beaten gold - as many of them were - cannot be told.' The members of de Hamel's club share many such wonders, which he brings to us with scholarship, style, and a lifetime's experience.

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  1. Print length
    624 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Allen Lane
  4. Publication date
    27 Oct. 2022
  5. Dimensions
    16.6 x 5.1 x 23.9 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0241304377
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0241304372
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
136 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book a pleasure to read and a fascinating subject presented by an engaging writer. They also recommend it.

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ContentReadability
8 customers mention ‘Content’8 positive0 negative

Customers find the subject fascinating, presented by an engaging writer. They also say it makes a great companion book to his other book, and is a useful history book. Readers also mention that the plates are superb and not too academic.

"...It makes a great companion book to his other book "Meetings with remarkable manuscripts" as it gives us more of an insight on the production side..." Read more

"...Not too academic and an easy discursive style. First class." Read more

"...I'd give twelve stars for the outstanding plates, which are off-the-chart superb...." Read more

"...throughout, this is both a feast for the eyes and a fascinating exposition of the craft of making medieval manuscripts...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Readability’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and a pleasure to read. They also say it's a short but excellent book.

"This is a short but excellent book...." Read more

"...The rest of this book is sometimes engaging, sometimes (fewer times, to be fair) infuriating...." Read more

"...De Hamel is a treasure, and this welcome reissue of an earlier book is just delightful. A fascinating subject presented by a most engaging writer...." Read more

"...written and beautifully illustrated; like his other work, a pleasure to read" Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Nick
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 September 2018
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This is a short but excellent book. As usual Christopher de Hamel demonstrates both his immense experience of examining old manuscripts and a talent for communication. The book is copiously illustrated with excellent examples from a wide range of documents. De Hamel always seems able frame his explanations in a human context and using many little clues gives us an insight of the day to day production of these works of art as they evolved from insular monasteries and scriptoriums to in-effect make-to-order production lines for the very wealthy. It makes a great companion book to his other book "Meetings with remarkable manuscripts" as it gives us more of an insight on the production side as opposed to the history and possible thinking of those commissioning the works and owning them. De Hamel is also quite skilled at staying on topic, it would be easy to drift into all sorts of arcane areas, but he consciously avoids this. I enjoyed this short read immensely and learned a lot from it.
7 people found this helpful
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Shaun Ogle
5.0 out of 5 stars History illuminated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2023
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I wish when I studied history at school and university this book had been available. Each chapter places individual manuscripts and interested parties- illuminator, collector, etc within a broader historical backdrop of key events - printing technology, the reformation and renaissance and really helps the reader in understanding the significance of such documents. Not too academic and an easy discursive style. First class.
One person found this helpful
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Kim
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent buy.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 December 2022
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One of the best buys I have made this year. Not one to be read cover to cover but one to be enjoyed piecemeal. Beautifully reproduced MSS and a new insight each page. Worth every penny
7 people found this helpful
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O. G. M. Morgan
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent graphics, but sometimes dubious history.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2023
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To get the bad bit out of the way, Christopher de Hamel knows very little about Ancient Rome. I really don't understand why Christopher de Hamel included a chapter on Theodor Mommsen. How does Mommsen fit into this parade of creators and collectors of manuscripts? Mommsen recognised the historical value of epigraphy, but Hamel fails to tie that in to his broader narrative.

The rest of this book is sometimes engaging, sometimes (fewer times, to be fair) infuriating. Hamel knows his subject, for the most part, which is what makes his obvious ignorance of Ancient Rome so annoying. He has literally held in his hands many of the documents to which he refers here and his enthusiasm is infectious.

I'd give twelve stars for the outstanding plates, which are off-the-chart superb. On the right tablet, you can magnify and magnify and magnify these pictures and appreciate the details.

Four stars overall: no more than three for the text, but those glorious plates compensate.
7 people found this helpful
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FrankT
5.0 out of 5 stars Feast for the eyes
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2018
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It would be hard to praise this book too highly. Originally published under a different title in 1992 but now updated and lavishly illustrated throughout, this is both a feast for the eyes and a fascinating exposition of the craft of making medieval manuscripts. My only minor reservation is that, at under 150 pages, the book should be longer, if only to spin out the pleasure of reading it.
9 people found this helpful
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smitaly
5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Introduction to Medieval Manuscripts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2018
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Christopher De Hamel is a treasure, and this welcome reissue of an earlier book is just delightful. A fascinating subject presented by a most engaging writer. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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Gerda Mamott
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant introduction to the world of medieval manuscripts and their ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 February 2018
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A brilliant introduction to the world of medieval manuscripts and their production. Who knew a bible on vellum needed a whole herd of sheep to be produced? Excellent both for the student and the layperson.
8 people found this helpful
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Ebenezer
5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasure to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2019
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Clearly written and beautifully illustrated; like his other work, a pleasure to read
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Professor Venkata Raghotham
5.0 out of 5 stars Study of West European Manuscripts
Reviewed in India on 30 January 2024
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This is a fabulous book Well written beautifully illustrated full of amazing insight.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Libro bellissimo.
Reviewed in Italy on 5 January 2024
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Mi è piaciuto il rapporto così funzionale tra le immagini e il testo.
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peter e.
5.0 out of 5 stars Hervorragend geschrieben und beschrieben.
Reviewed in Germany on 18 February 2021
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Der Autor ist ein genialer Experte, weltklasse.
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Christian Schlect
5.0 out of 5 stars Read Happily
Reviewed in the United States on 4 January 2024
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A fine book on very old books.

The Englishman Christopher De Hamel is an extremely knowledgeable and seasoned guide to the rarified world of medieval manuscripts. As a non-expert myself, I found the twelve people highlighted with chapters in De Hamel's book to be both interesting and instructive. And, as with many books of this type, part of the enjoyment is being exposed to random bits of knowledge. (For example, I now know how the word "gorilla" entered our language.)

The book is somewhat of a project to read from cover to cover. I would suggest a reader consider reading one of two chapters at a sitting, and then turn to other books or papers.

The book is enhanced by many impressive illustrations and a detailed bibliography with informative notes. It also enjoys a dustcover design that is both striking and apt.

As an aside, anyone visiting New York City should take time to visit the Morgan Library. It is one of the cultural jewels of our nation.
8 people found this helpful
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polka
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent color plates
Reviewed in the United States on 14 February 2024
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am sure I’ll go back to it again and again. What a lovely thing the manuscripts are and their history is fascinating. But the color plates which I looked at with my dad’s big old magnifying glass were so sharp and clear and endearing. The colors are stunning.
3 people found this helpful
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