Discovering William of Malmesbury

In the past William of Malmesbury (1090-1143) has been seen as first and foremost a historian of England, and little else. This volume reveals not only William's real greatness as a historian and his European vision, but also the breadth and depth of his learning across a number of other fields. There is no question that the Conference - from which these essays are largely taken - moved our knowledge and understanding of this remarkable Benedictine scholar forward to a significant extent, and has enhanced his importance as an English contributor to the 'Twelfth-Century Renaissance'. Areas that receive particular attention are William's historical writings, his historical vision and interpretation of England's past; William and kingship; William's language; William's medical knowledge; The influence of Bede and other ancient writers on William's historiography; William and chronology; William, Anselm of Canterbury and reform of the English Church; William and the Latin Classics; William and the Jews; William as hagiographer. This is essentially the acts of the Conference on 'William of Malmesbury and his Legacy', held at Oxford in 2015. Of the 27 chapters, all but two delivered as papers at the Conference, and provide a broad coverage of William's learning, wide-ranging interests and significance as revealed in his writings.