Thomas Becket and his Biographers

✍ Scribed by Michael Staunton

• Publisher: Boydell Press
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 258
• Series: Studies in the History of Medieval Religion
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

In the wake of his murder in December 1170, an extraordinarily large number of Lives of Thomas Becket were produced.They provide an invaluable witness to the life and death of Thomas and the dramatic events in which he was involved, but they are also works of great literary value, more complex and sophisticated than has been recognised. This book, the first to be devoted to the biographers and their works, consists of an examination the individual Lives, followed by an analysis of the biographers' treatment of the major themes in Thomas's life - conversion, conflict, trial, exile and martyrdom - in the light of contemporary hagiographical, historical and theological writing and canon law. It raises points of major significance for the study of intellectual and literary life in the central middle ages and provides an important reassessment of the Becket conflict and Thomas Becket himself. Dr MICHAEL STAUNTON is Lecturer in Medieval History, School of History and Archives, University College Dublin.

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS
......Page 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
......Page 7
ABBREVIATIONS
......Page 8
1. Introduction: The Lives and their context......Page 10
2. The forerunner: John of Salisbury......Page 28
3. Telling the story: Edward Grim, Guernes and Anonymous I......Page 37
4. Criticism and vindication: Anonymous II and Alan of Tewkesbury......Page 47
5. The view from Canterbury: Benedict of Peterborough and William of Canterbury......Page 58
6. Observation and reflection: William Fitzstephen......Page 65
7. Breaking the rules of history: Herbert of Bosham......Page 72
8. Conversion......Page 84
9. Conflict......Page 106
10. Trial......Page 138
11. Exile......Page 162
12. Martyrdom......Page 193
CONCLUSION
......Page 225
BIBLIOGRAPHY
......Page 229
INDEX
......Page 249

✦ Subjects

Исторические дисциплины;Всемирная история;История средних веков;