Seminal investigations into the most important aspects of medieval
Scots texts, with a particular focus on editing and manuscript
context. This rich selection from the writings of Priscilla
Bawcutt, the major scholar of Older Scots literature, both honours
her achievement and provides authoritative guidance to all involved
in the pleasures and challenges of medieval and early modern
Scottish studies. The first five chapters, including a hitherto
unpublished paper, gather her insights into how to examine,
contextualize, and edit early poetic texts. Among her discussions
are those on the importance of explanatory notes, the usefulness of
fragments, the demands of transcription, and the need for
objectivity when identifying supposed influences, date, or author.
Bawcutt draws on a variety of texts, including Dunbar's "elrich
fantasyis", Rolland's Court of Venus, and metrical Scottish charms
to illustrate these aspects of editing. Two central chapters then
give balance and coherence to the complex evidence of change in
literary activities and tastes in early Scotland. First, an
analytical survey of manuscript miscellanies, noting their
diversity in size, condition, arrangement, copyists, owners, and
purposes, offers many different ways to approach these
compilations. Secondly, Bawcutt's study of one particular
miscellany, the great five-part Bannatyne Manuscript, provides new
information on the sources and authors of the many texts it
contains and the diversity of their literary and cultural
connections. Five further chapters combine textual and
bibliographical studies with contextual explorations, into personal
libraries, habits of reading, annotators, and book circulation
within family groups, across borders, or over time. Among these
illuminating essays are those on Gavin Douglas's imaginary library,
and the influential first printed edition of his Eneados, both of
increasing interest alongside the new edition of his translation. A
full bibliography of Priscilla Bawcutt's publications is also
included.
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