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Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts: Twelve Journeys into the Medieval World Paperback – November 12, 2019

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 579 ratings

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An extraordinary and beautifully illustrated exploration of the medieval world through twelve manuscripts, from one of the world's leading experts.

Winner of The Wolfson History Prize and The Duff Cooper Prize.

A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Book Gift Guide Pick! 
 
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts is a captivating examination of twelve illuminated manuscripts from the medieval period. Noted authority Christopher de Hamel invites the reader into intimate conversations with these texts to explore what they tell us about nearly a thousand years of medieval history - and about the modern world, too.

In so doing, de Hamel introduces us to kings, queens, saints, scribes, artists, librarians, thieves, dealers, and collectors. He traces the elaborate journeys that these exceptionally precious artifacts have made through time and shows us how they have been copied, how they have been embroiled in politics, how they have been regarded as objects of supreme beauty and as symbols of national identity, and who has owned them or lusted after them (and how we can tell).  

From the earliest book in medieval England to the incomparable Book of Kells to the oldest manuscript of the
Canterbury Tales, these encounters tell a narrative of intellectual culture and art over the course of a millennium.   Two of the manuscripts visited are now in libraries of North America, the Morgan Library in New York and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Part travel book, part detective story, part conversation with the reader,
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts allows us to experience some of the greatest works of art in our culture to give us a different perspective on history and on how we come by knowledge.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts is one of the least likely and most wonderful books I have ever read. Least likely: Where to start? It’s a vanishingly rare pleasure, given the commercial constraints of modern publishing, to handle 600 smoothly weighty pages in which the printed text winds its way seamlessly among more than 200 glorious, often full-color illustrations. And in producing such a gorgeous object, Christopher de Hamel’s publisher has had the courage of his convictions, because its physical and visual delights mirror its commercially unlikely subject matter…[De Hamel] is voraciously completist, recording impressions of each journey, place, building and reading room, as well as every coverage detail of each manuscript’s creation, content and existence as a physical object through time and space… On this archival odyssey, I lost count of the things I learned…[Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts], like the volumes that are its subject, is a book of wonders.”  - The New York Times Book Review 

Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts is miles away from academic dry-as-dust scholarship. You’ll love learning from it. Little wonder that in Britain this extraordinary book has already won both the Wolfson History Prize and the Duff Cooper nonfiction prize.” –Washington Post
 
“De Hamel is a man of extraordinary erudition and easy charm; his book asks many questions of the past, and invokes many mysteries.” –
The New Yorker

"An extraordinary book, a work of scholarship and history salted with the author's excitement...It is full of delights, as well as surprising reminders of the shifting ground of knowledge."
- Tom Stoppard

“Deeply edifying and hugely entertaining… [De Hamel’s] curiosity and enthusiasm are infectious and his dedicated sleuth-work and educated guesses are invigorating. When not awed by the sheer scope of his expertise or absorbed by his concerted efforts to decipher script or dissect scripture, we are diverted by his light flourishes and witty evaluations.”Weekly Standard 

“Perhaps most important in discussing this magnificent work is to assure you that the overarching erudition is rendered clearly and with great kindness to you, his companion. He shows a shrewd ability in telling you just why this is something you should know. I am a happier and fuller person because this fine man took me on his Grand Tour and told me so many marvelous things.” --
Helen Hazen, The American Scholar

“This is a rare example of a book that appeals to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. For a person with no training in manuscript study who would like to know what it’s all about, I could recommend nothing better than reading at least one chapter of this 632-page book, pausing over its many beautiful color illustrations. But anyone with a professional interest in the field will not want to miss de Hamel’s own original thinking about these ancient tomes…a wonderful book.” –
Commonweal Magazine
 
“A glorious book…de Hamel pulls readers in with his unmistakable passion for every facet of these handcrafted treasures…. [and] details each document’s idiosyncrasies while contextualizing its time and place of creation…De Hamel’s delightful book is bound to inspire a new set of medievalists.” –
Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Interested general readers will appreciate de Hamel’s lucid treatment of the themes and literary techniques that mark these manuscripts as cultural milestones…But they will marvel at the lavish reproductions of the masterful calligraphy and dazzling illuminations that have long made the manuscripts irresistible to collectors. A must-read for anyone who values the history of the written word.” –
Booklist, starred review

“A palaeographer's fascinating investigation of medieval culture. A former librarian of Parker Library at Cambridge and cataloger of illuminated manuscripts for Sotheby's, de Hamel brings extensive expertise to his meticulous examination of 12 celebrated manuscripts created from the sixth to the 16th century…The book is sumptuously illustrated…A rare, erudite, and delightfully entertaining history.” —
Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Reading is my life, but only about once a decade do I find a book that seems to tilt the world, so afterwards it appears different."
Fiammetta Rocco, Economist '1843'
 
"Encountering an original medieval manuscript is in some ways like encountering a famous person, says De Hamel. With meticulous biblio-sleuthing he seeks to divine the hidden 'character' of the celebrity documents under his scrutiny. ... De Hamel's book, scholarly but unfailingly readable, is the beginning of wisdom in all things scribal and scriptural." –
Ian Thomson, Observer
 

"Christopher de Hamel is one of the world's leading palaeographers ... In this splendid new book he has numerous fascinating, scandalous, funny and gloriously entertaining tales. ... His enthusiasm, irreverence and wit are irresistible. ...
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts is, like each one of the 12 treasures it celebrates, a book of marvels." – John Banville, Financial Times
 
“He has undertaken an almost impossible task. Instead of guiding our own exploration of these beautiful objects, his book has to serve as a substitute for the real thing. In this, he succeeds brilliantly, producing a truly wonderful book in the process - wise, entertaining and informative. ... Beneath his urbane manner, Christopher de Hamel is a formidable scholar.” –
Jonathan Sumption, Spectator
 
"With scholarly elegance, Christopher de Hamel opens the door and invites us to join him for the intellectual expedition of a lifetime...This is an endlessly fascinating and enjoyable book."
– Neil MacGregor
 
"Erudite and enthusiastic...de Hamel has catalogued more medieval manuscripts than anyone in history; everyone, not only academics should listen to what he has said."
Economist
 
"Spectacular ... Manuscripts are the lifeblood of medieval history. De Hamel, the librarian of Corpus Christi, has spent a lifetime handling, cataloguing and interpreting these gorgeous objects....If I could walk you to your nearest bookshop, take £30 from your wallet, and place this wonderful book in your hands, I would."
– Peter Thonemann, Sunday Times
 
One of the cultural highlights of the autumn...Christopher de Hamel has turned a lifelong obsession with ancient literature into a book that critics are comparing to
A History of the World in 100 Objects and the wonderful The Hare with Amber Eyes." - Kirsty Ward, Newsnight
 
"He reveals a stupendous discovery has made about this book that no one had noticed in its centuries on this earth. ... De Hamel makes an informative, entertaining book (the most suitable medium, after all), and no one but he could have written it."
- Christopher Howse, Daily Telegraph
 
"Christopher de Hamel's learned adventures amid some of the West's greatest manuscript treasures effortlessly outclass Eco's
The Name of the Rose in elegance and excitement. They are also much funnier." -  Diarmaid MacCulloch

[Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts] is de Hamel’s masterpiece, and has come at the end of a long and distinguished career. De Hamel writes in his introduction of his desire to communicate “the thrill of bringing a well-informed but non-specialist reader into intimate contact with major medieval manuscripts.” He does it brilliantly, and in full color. This would have to be my book of the year. - Jon M. Sweeney, American Magazine 

 

About the Author

Christopher de Hamel is perhaps the best-known writer on medieval manuscripts in the world.  In the course of a long career at Sotheby's he catalogued more illuminated manuscripts than any other person alive, and very possibly more than any one individual has ever done. Christopher de Hamel is a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; he was until recently librarian of Parker Library in Cambridge, a collection which includes many, even most, of the earliest manuscripts in English language and history. De Hamel lives in London and Cambridge.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (November 12, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 640 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143110802
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143110804
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.6 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.03 x 1.58 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 579 ratings

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4.8 out of 5 stars
579 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's illustrations beautiful and well-presented. They appreciate the interesting stories and insights into lesser-known history. The information is praised as good, well-researched, and entertaining. Many readers describe the book as remarkable and treasured. The humor and accessibility are also appreciated.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

56 customers mention "Illustrations"55 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the book's illustrations and engaging text. They find the book beautifully illustrated and well-presented, with interesting insights into illuminated manuscripts. The book goes into great detail, some of which may not always be interesting to everyone, but never too much. Readers appreciate the author's wonderful and sometimes amusing insights into illuminated manuscript design and creativity. Overall, the book is described as fascinating for those interested in illuminated manuscripts and more readable and fun than expected.

"Fascinating for those interested in illuminated manuscripts -- and much more readable and fun than you'd expect. Great nonfiction." Read more

"...It is Filled with wonderful photographs and reproductions, and the writing is so well done that you feel like you’re listening to somebody tell you..." Read more

"...erudition with accessibility in his many studies of manuscripts, creativity, and the obsessive pursuit of these treasures...." Read more

"...The book goes in to great detail, some of which may not always be interesting to every reader, but overall the book should appeal to anyone who..." Read more

29 customers mention "Story quality"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging. They appreciate the witty insights into lesser-known history, informative details, and interesting stories. The information is entertaining, complete, and packed with details of medieval life. The book serves as an exciting view of book art in history, providing a personal perspective for each book.

"...This is definitely one of those books. Fascinating, well written, and a true gift to anybody who has an interest in manuscripts." Read more

"...He makes it fascinating, like a psycho-historical profile of a famous person. Yet he never is condescending or over-academic...." Read more

"This is a gorgeous book, full of fascinating stories connected to twelve different medieval manuscripts..." Read more

"...I was not prepared for the fascinating text and interesting insights and stories. This is my favorite book on this often overlooked subject." Read more

25 customers mention "Information quality"22 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's information quality good. They say it's well-researched, profound, and personal. Readers travel with the author and follow his insights and digressions in libraries around the world. The book opens new worlds to the uninitiated reader and is their favorite on this often overlooked subject.

"...Great nonfiction." Read more

"...This is my favorite book on this often overlooked subject." Read more

"Well researched, a bit dull at times...." Read more

"...and he approaches each manuscript a little differently, wandering around his subject matter and not afraid of interesting digressions...." Read more

23 customers mention "Value for money"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money. They describe it as a remarkable book with valuable manuscripts. The visual resources are worth the price, and the author is described as Sherlock of ancient manuscripts.

"...Then along comes this wonderful book. As other reviewers have stated, each chapter focuses on a different manuscript...." Read more

"...Given the size (and heft) of the book and the many photos, it is worth the $30 price...." Read more

"...But there is a lifetime of meticulous work and devotion reflected in the writing, and the book is beautifully produced." Read more

"Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts C. de Hamel I got the e-book after hearing an interview with the author on a pod cast...." Read more

11 customers mention "Humor"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find the writing engaging and amusing, with descriptions of rare book collections and the author's knowledge of manuscripts.

"...Filled with wonderful photographs and reproductions, and the writing is so well done that you feel like you’re listening to somebody tell you about..." Read more

"...The author writes with wisdom and humor, relating his personal journey to examine each book up very old stairways, down to hidden rooms, with views..." Read more

"...Top book! It is written with a wry humor, the author really does know manuscripts and takes you along with him exploring the history of both..." Read more

"...utterly captivated by the breadth, depth, beauty, and even humor of this amazing volume. I especially appreciate its dimensions...." Read more

4 customers mention "Accessibility"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the manuscripts accessible.

"...and I am honored to know someone who combines erudition with accessibility in his many studies of manuscripts, creativity, and the obsessive..." Read more

"...de Hamel makes the arcana of illuminated manuscripts exciting and accessible...." Read more

"Masterful and accesible..." Read more

"Accessible..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
    Fascinating for those interested in illuminated manuscripts -- and much more readable and fun than you'd expect. Great nonfiction.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2019
    I absolutely love this book. I’ve always been interested in manuscripts yet I’ve never had the mind to read through technical books describing all the details involved in the creation of the manuscript. There were always too many terms I didn’t know or couldn’t remember, and I just felt like I was always struggling to keep my head above water.

    Then along comes this wonderful book. As other reviewers have stated, each chapter focuses on a different manuscript. It is Filled with wonderful photographs and reproductions, and the writing is so well done that you feel like you’re listening to somebody tell you about these manuscripts rather than reading about them.

    Just the way the book feels in your hand, and the way the pages lay open easily. It is a pleasure to read.

    There are four or five contemporary books in my library that I truly love, and feel like I can go back to from year to year to read sections of again. This is definitely one of those books.

    Fascinating, well written, and a true gift to anybody who has an interest in manuscripts.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2016
    This book is remarkable! Christopher de Hamel is a dear friend for over 30 years, and I am honored to know someone who combines erudition with accessibility in his many studies of manuscripts, creativity, and the obsessive pursuit of these treasures. This book combines these topics in a unique and readable way. For most of us mortals, actual contact with these rare ancient books is simply impossible. We settle for photographs, high-priced facsimiles, or an exhibition in a darkened room with mere moments in front of an original manuscript. So here we are taken by the hand into the library/museum, admonished by the curator what is OK (NO nail-polish! NO adjustment of the stands! NO touching without a surgical scrub!), sat at a table and given a $30 million dollar book to look at. We learn to study the history, the construction, the meanings, and the variants as we explore the scribbles, the calligraphy, the painting, the binding... everything. He makes it fascinating, like a psycho-historical profile of a famous person. Yet he never is condescending or over-academic. You go through the tour like attending a party and talking to a series of special hosts. I proudly read the entire book several times and will freely say it is unlike any other book on the subject, all of which study the material from only an art-historical viewpoint. Very unique!
    120 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
    This is a gorgeous book, full of fascinating stories connected to twelve different medieval manuscripts (some as much as 1500 years old, some as young as 400-500 years old). Lots of high-resolution color photos accompany the stories to help make them come alive. The author is incredibly passionate about the subject (check him out on youtube), and that passion comes through. He also includes personal anecdotes about his encounters with the manuscripts. The book goes in to great detail, some of which may not always be interesting to every reader, but overall the book should appeal to anyone who loves old books and manuscripts. Given the size (and heft) of the book and the many photos, it is worth the $30 price. Also check out amazon.co.uk, which has many dozens of 5-star reviews. (The book came out in the UK several months before the US.)
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2023
    I ordered this book expecting it to be helpful in inspiring my own artistic endeavors. I was not prepared for the fascinating text and interesting insights and stories. This is my favorite book on this often overlooked subject.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
    Well researched, a bit dull at times. Can tell the author is a bit difficult, as he writes in the intro and again in the back matter that he basically strongly disagreed with the publisher's decision to title this "Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts" and that he felt it should have been "Interviews with Remarkable Manuscripts." Hoo, I wonder how many emails and calls and in-person chats involved this. This uses British spellings, which was most decidedly a firm author request, which is fine, but the over-hyphenating (ha) of terms got to me a little: hiding-places, turning-points, sub-text, reading-room, paragraph-marks, strip-lights. But there is a lifetime of meticulous work and devotion reflected in the writing, and the book is beautifully produced.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2023
    Interesting enough to know each significant manuscripts, and also I could know cultural differences among libraries in different countries.
    Great book and I will read this again.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rangan Roy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific
    Reviewed in India on August 30, 2019
    Simply superb... I loved it..
  • jo
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for your correct knowledge of our civilation and its origins in literature since the 7th century.
    Reviewed in France on May 4, 2018
    A delight to read and contemplate the deep erudition of the author and his experience with these fantastic manuscripts. Thoughtful, sometimes funny, very personal, and historically complete: he knows who was and said what for the past 1,400 years.
  • The Welk
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book of rare quality
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2017
    It’s not often one comes across such a superbly well written book. Hamelin has a deceptive lightness of touch; he knows these manuscripts as few ever will but his style is open and full of humour, highly informative and quirky, learned but never intimidating. It takes time to read and it repays the effort. For me the most powerful chapters were focused on the very early manuscripts; the Gospels of St Augustine and the Book of Kells. There is a sense of almost personal encounter with these distant voices as they came to terms with their relationship with Christianity particularly in the light of the collapse of the civilised Roman world which had produced it.

    It brought to mind my own first reading of Bede as a young Oxford student and the excitement of struggling through the medieval Latin (a real struggle in my case) to see the world in the terms of the monks writing in their scriptoria in Jarrow and Lindisfarne. It opened up my sense of the historical; men and women with very recognisable characters grappling with an inexplicable and very threatening world.

    The later chapters are also very revealing. For me the chapter on Chaucer was of most interest. To see some of the very earliest manuscripts brought to life recalled my own first encounter with The Canterbury Tales as an A level student. Again this is not easy language to engage with, and it’s a great shame it has largely disappeared from the UK school curriculum, but there cannot be many better ways to understand the 14th century than through the stories of Chaucer.

    This is one of the best books I’ve read over the past decade. It is beautifully produced, elegantly written and completely engaging. Buy it, read it perhaps by the fire as a retreat from autumnal rain and wind and preferably with a good malt whisky, and lose yourself with some of the most beautiful texts ever produced.
  • Vanessa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about illuminated medieval manuscripts
    Reviewed in Canada on January 12, 2017
    Very interesting book. I enjoyed reading it. The research that went into this book is remarkable and unique. It is a product of a lifetime of experience.
  • Wolfgang Kasper
    5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to the reader
    Reviewed in Australia on September 26, 2020
    As I progressed through this book, I increasingly felt as if I was exploring a gift by the author. This was not a book that one simply reads, but a journey during which one pauses to look at the illustrations. The Kindle version, which I hold in my hands, allows magnification, hence progressive discovery of detail. I also appreciated the author’s observations of libraries and places visited to encounter the protagonists, I.e. the Medieval manuscripts we meet. What a delight.