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nikita_barsukov's review
4.0
Extremely nerdy book written by a highest-degree fanboy author. Book is about 10 medieval manuscripts, including Carmina Burana, the one that inspired famous classical tune of the same name. Author delight from touching these old manuscripts is obvious and palpable from the start.
Each manuscript has its own chapter, and every chapter is structured similarly. Author visits library where it is stored, writes about librarians, manuscript keepers, describes look-and-feel of manuscript binding, pages, pictures, handwriting, and tells the story of the manuscript.
If the above does not immediately turn you away, this book will bring you joy and a very unusual angle to history storytelling.
Each manuscript has its own chapter, and every chapter is structured similarly. Author visits library where it is stored, writes about librarians, manuscript keepers, describes look-and-feel of manuscript binding, pages, pictures, handwriting, and tells the story of the manuscript.
If the above does not immediately turn you away, this book will bring you joy and a very unusual angle to history storytelling.
susani_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book is a dream come true to those obsessed with old manuscripts that I know I will never ever get to see in my life.
It is so beautiful and I am so thankful that Christopher de Hamel was able to get access and write this amazing book. We are introduced to masters pieces of manuscripts.
I look forward to reading and going through this book again and again.
I highly recommend the hardback version of this book. Slightly more expensive but worth every penny.
It is so beautiful and I am so thankful that Christopher de Hamel was able to get access and write this amazing book. We are introduced to masters pieces of manuscripts.
I look forward to reading and going through this book again and again.
I highly recommend the hardback version of this book. Slightly more expensive but worth every penny.
matthewabush's review against another edition
5.0
If this topic interests you, I highly suggest this book. I read it over time and it took me a while to get through it, but I did enjoy every chapter.
navahx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Definitely going to listen again, pre-ordering his next book (or requesting from the library)
laughterbynight's review against another edition
2.0
De hamel is a piece of work and being dragged off on tangents while attempting to learn more about the manuscripts he’s supposed to be focused on in this book was a chore. It does not help that his ego and classism are inescapable at every turn, though he seems almost wholly unaware of it, somehow.
I can’t recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn specifically about illuminated manuscripts. It’s just not really about that. They’re there, but they feel like background for everything else the author talks about, which is both a shame and waste of a reader’s time in my opinion.
This book feels like it’s for the Christian scholar who is looking to learn more about the author and the historical background of some key characters in history who might have owned or commissioned these manuscripts. Expect untranslated Latin, references to passages in the Bible you’re expected to know, and lots of snarky classist quips about anybody and everybody. Park the ego with your non existent car, dude. It’s a lot.
I can’t recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn specifically about illuminated manuscripts. It’s just not really about that. They’re there, but they feel like background for everything else the author talks about, which is both a shame and waste of a reader’s time in my opinion.
This book feels like it’s for the Christian scholar who is looking to learn more about the author and the historical background of some key characters in history who might have owned or commissioned these manuscripts. Expect untranslated Latin, references to passages in the Bible you’re expected to know, and lots of snarky classist quips about anybody and everybody. Park the ego with your non existent car, dude. It’s a lot.
bub_9's review against another edition
4.0
This is just delightful and a really fun way of introducing an unbelievably esoteric world of medieval texts to the average reader (with much thanks to the beautiful illustrations). The author does a brilliant job of exploring the intricacies and historical exigencies of each work and its context of production which, one feels, is a process which might someday be performed upon the works we produce and consume in our present moment.
Here are the 12 subjects of the fascinating "meetings" the author has:
1. Gospels of Saint Augustine
2. The Codex Amiatinus
3. The Book of Kells
4. The Leiden Aratea
5. The Morgan Beatus
6. Hugo Pictor
7. The Copenhagen Psalter
8. The Carmina Burana
9. The Hours of Jeanne de Navarre
10. The Hengwrt Chaucer
11. The Visconti Semideus
12. The Spinola Hours
Here are the 12 subjects of the fascinating "meetings" the author has:
1. Gospels of Saint Augustine
2. The Codex Amiatinus
3. The Book of Kells
4. The Leiden Aratea
5. The Morgan Beatus
6. Hugo Pictor
7. The Copenhagen Psalter
8. The Carmina Burana
9. The Hours of Jeanne de Navarre
10. The Hengwrt Chaucer
11. The Visconti Semideus
12. The Spinola Hours
author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition
4.0
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts by Christopher de Hamel is a massive tome of over 600 pages, 200 color illustrations, and weighing more than two pounds (1 kg). It is part memoir, travelogue, history, and mystery. It chronicles European illuminated manuscripts from the earliest (6th century) to end (16th century) caused by Gutenberg’s invention in the mid-15th century.
While not a history of everyday life, this European medieval history, pays minimal attention to wars or politics. If you are interested in Medieval history or art, this is a unique opportunity to visit the period from a different point of view.
For my lengthy book club report: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2018/03/meetings-with-remarkable-manuscripts-by.html
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.
While not a history of everyday life, this European medieval history, pays minimal attention to wars or politics. If you are interested in Medieval history or art, this is a unique opportunity to visit the period from a different point of view.
For my lengthy book club report: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2018/03/meetings-with-remarkable-manuscripts-by.html
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.