A study of the history of the written word in the Middle Ages, concentrating on the formative period between the Norman Conquest and the death of Edward I, when documents first came into common use and literate habits were established.[...]

This seminal work of scholarship, which traces the development of literacy in medieval England, is now fully updated in a third edition.This book serves as an introduction to medieval books and documents for graduate students throughout the worldFeatures a completely re-written first chapter, 'Memor[...]