Old English libraries : the making, collection, and use of books during the Middle Ages

The work opens a window onto the world of England’s medieval libraries, showing how books were not merely objects but active participants in daily life. It traces the craft of manuscript production, from the quiet scriptoriums of monastic houses to the bustling workshops of cathedral schools, and follows the routes these volumes travelled as they moved between scholars, clergy, and royal courts.

Drawing on a wealth of contemporary illustrations and detailed plans, the author guides listeners through the storied halls of places such as Oxford, Canterbury, and Wells. Each chapter reads like a guided tour, revealing the practical concerns of storage, the rituals of borrowing, and the communal pride attached to a well‑kept collection. The narrative weaves together scholarly research with anecdotes that bring the medieval book‑lover’s world to life.