Page 84 placidas approaching nigh thought in his mind how he might take him, and as he beheld and considered the hart diligently, he saw between his horns the form of the holy cross shining more clear than the sun, and the image of christ, which by the mouth of. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda sanctorum, also known as 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 of the middle ages. Yet, it was the bestseller of the middle ages, a period during which hagiographies. See the description page for this image and the page explaining the iconography of images of this saint. It was likely compiled around the years 12591266, although the text was added to over the centuries. See the golden legend main pageindex for other volumes or chapter length files. 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. A study of caxtons golden legend with special reference to its relations to the earlier english prose translation.
Translator william granger ryan is to be thanked for rendering this monument almost 800 pages of medieval piety into accessible english. 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 of the middle ages. Or, lives of the saints, volume 1 the golden legend. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived. Heres where all the stories of the saints come from. There is an index to each volume, rather than one to the whole. 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. There is also a crease on one of the first few interior pages. The golden legend voragine wikisource, the free online. 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 collection of saints lives. In search of sacred time is the first comprehensive history and interpretation of this crucial book. 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.
In the beginning god made and created heaven and earth. Anne often place the virgin mary and the christ child on her lap. The golden legend tells a magnificent story of terror and. It is only fitting that one of final books of the prolific french medievalist jacques le goff, who died on 1 april 2014, is a study of one of the most famous and widely read. It was one of the first books william caxton printed in the english language. One of the central texts of the middle ages, the golden legend deeply influenced. The golden legend is a fascinating book containing a wealth of valuable historical and traditional information about the men and women of the first thousand. Apr 18, 2017 attentive hands will recreate this golden legend, making it something even greater than it was with the additional stories contained in its careful stitches. For lovers of tangible books, possessing heft, taking up space, and suffering entropy with everything else, the golden legend makes a spectacular addition to your bookcase. Or, lives of the saints, volume 2 the golden legend. Golden legend table of contents christian iconography home page.
Dec 04, 2014 the golden legend voragine from wikisource. Dec 04, 2014 search for titles containing or beginning with. It was likely compiled around the year 1260, although the text was added to over the centuries. 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 for readers interested in. Jacques le goff, one of the worlds most renowned medievalists, provides a. That is to say, part of penance, part of contemplation within forth, and part of heavenly glory. Among the books which afford us an insight into he popular religious thought of the middle ages, none holds a more important place than the legenda aurea or golden legend. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. By this be understood three things that be three, the best parts that she chose. Dust jacket has some signs of shelf wear and there is a pencil price written on the corner of one of the inside pages. Englished by william caxton, first edition 1483, edited by f. With one of the largest book inventories in the world, find the book you are looking for. The history of the medieval illuminated book in western europe began with the.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the golden legend. If you happened to have survived parochial school, the content as well is priceless. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 for readers interested in medieval art and literature and in popular religious culture more generally. The online books page the golden legend or lives of the saints. One of the central texts of the middle ages, the golden legend deeply influenced the imagery of poetry, painting and stained glass with its fascinating descriptions of saints lives and religious festivals. 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 stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. By the 15th century, editions of voragines golden legend were available in every major european language. In 1244 he entered the dominican order and at the age of 22 became a professor. By the 15th century, editions of voragine s golden legend were available in. Jacques le goff, one of the worlds most renowned medievalists. 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, painting and stained glass. Georges slaying of the dragon may be a christian version of the.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. It is a compendium of saints lives and of liturgical and doctrinal instruction, culled in the 1260s from a wide range of patristic and medieval sources. For like as gold passeth in value all other metals, so this legend exceedeth all other books, wherein be contained all the high and great feasts of our lord, the feasts of our blessed lady, the lives, passions, and miracles of. Mary is as much to say as bitter, or a lighter, or lighted. The golden legend, an extensive collection of saints biographies, became one of the bestselling books of the late medieval period. Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of both factual and fictional storiessome preposterous, some profound, and some shockingthe golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. 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. If an article link referred you here, please consider editing it to point directly to the intended page. 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.