Choice 评论

Although many authors and works treated in this volume are usually considered late Latin rather than German, this valuable collection nonetheless serves as an excellent introduction to literature of the early Middle Ages in Germany. The Archipoeta, Einhard, Godescalcus the Saxon, and a host of others included in the collection share one important characteristic: of their surviving works, none was written in German. Yet they are central to the emergence and the understanding of German vernacular literature, and their juxtaposition here with the true vernacular authors is a beneficial feature. As is usual in this series, the contributions are generally well researched and documented; Hasty's general introduction and an excellent article on Hildegard of Bingen by Sabina Flanagan stand out among a number of stellar pieces. In addition, there are three useful general articles on medieval hagiography, manuscript illumination, and courtly culture from the time of Charlemagne to that of the Hohenstaufen. The illustrations, again typically, are abundant and informative, but not especially high in quality. The supplementary bibliography, which closes the volume, is too summary to be of real value, but the bibliographies in individual articles are uniformly excellent. Recommended for college and research libraries. J. H. Spohrer; University of California, Berkeley