Ecclesiastical History of the English People (Penguin Classics) |
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Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
Written in AD 731, Bede's work opens with a background sketch of Roman Britain's geography and history. It goes on to tell of the kings and bishops, monks and nuns who helped to develop Anglo-Saxon government and religion during the crucial formative years of the English people. Leo Sherley-Price's translation brings us an accurate and readable version, in modern English, of a unique historical document. This edition now includes Bede's Letter to Egbert concerning pastoral care in early Anglo-Saxon England, at the heart of which lay Bede's denunciation of the false monasteries; and The Death of Bede, an admirable eye-witness account by Cuthbert, monk and later Abbot of Jarrow, both translated by D. H. Farmer.
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Customer Reviews:
• Treasure Of The English People
28 October, 2002
There is a definite thrill to reading the actual words set down by the infamously unassuming monk himself. This is why there are so many fields where "Bede" is mandatory foundational literature, but if you are a student of English history, literature, theology, philosophy, or sociology you already know that. One of the most lasting of the many images the book creates is the biography of Bede himself; surviving a plague that left only the abbot and the young boy Bede to sing the Divine Offices, then settling in at Jarrow where he was sheltered with the precious books for the remainder of his life.Dated as 731, Bede's history was written in his old age (when he was 60 or so) and his gentle manner of reflection on the relationship of kings, gentry, the Church, it's priests and leaders, and common folk with one another informs one quite clearly of the many years spent teaching other monks, repeatedly re-reading texts, and living the religious life that bestowed the title "Venerable Bede" upon him. A professional academic in every modern sense of the word, knowledgeable, inquiring, conscious of his place in history, inventor of the chronological annotation (A.D.), meticulous researcher of events, places, and times; from any perspective you choose, this book demands to be part of your life experience.This edition (which is probably the best-known - it's Sherley-Price's 1955 translation) includes both Bede's Letter to Egbert and the great eyewitness account of Bede's death by Cuthbert, upon which a significant part of Bede's reputation rests. There is no way to read Cuthbert's letter without understanding the ideal of humility for a medieval monk.....the image of him giving away his earthly treasures of pepper, handkerchiefs and incense in the hours before he dies....it's an image that stays with you forever.All in all, the work is one of the treasures of our species....
- Amazon Customer Review
• A Great Overview Of Early English History
12 May, 2004
I found this book wonderful as a broad overview of early England. The reader must keep in mind the social and religous beliefs of the author and of the times. I liked the broad brush the author uses to describe the people and climate of the time. A very enjoyable read....
- Amazon Customer Review
• Historians Legacy
21 October, 2004
A few years ago, I had the chance to go to Durham Cathedral. As an American medievalist with a love of the Anglo-Saxon era I jumped at the chance. I had a chance there to see not only the resting place of Saint Cuthbert, but also The Vernerable Bede.
The Venerable Bede -- this is not a name, only an office. What his actual name was we will probably never know, but that is less important than the historical narrative he has left us. Having in mind to write a history of the English peoples, he goes on to write a work filled with wonders, colourful characters, foul villains, and ever and ever again, miracles.
The Bede was an ecclesiast and saw all of history filtered through the glass of the Church. Yet somehow he does not come off as "preachy" as many other historians of the time. Maybe it is because of his deft characterizations, maybe his succinct view of the seemingly necessary course of history, but in any case I find myself caught up in a well-told tale, with morals attached.
By modern terms the Bede's work is one-sided and biased, and yet if you wish a true window into a world, it is best to have a guide. The Bede gives us such a window, however imperfect, yet carefully and thoughtfully written. To understand the northern English kingdoms of the early Middle Ages, one must consult the Bede; luckily, he is also a sympathetic fellow and draws us in, gently and knowingly, and offers us historical truths (especially close to his own time) as well as small sermons.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Important Work, Good Translation
07 February, 2010
In this work, Bede set out to write the history Christianity in Britain. It covers the Roman invasions of Britain, the coming of the Anglo-Saxons, the conversion to Christianity, the rise and fall of the Arian and Pelagian heresies in England, and various historical events as they relate to the development of Christianity in England. The discussions of the Roman period are likely taken from other histories.
This is not a general history of England (for that, you want to also read The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as that work contains more material of general historical interest).
Bede's work is fascinating, despite its narrow focus, for a couple of reasons. First, he provides a window into the view of the religious values of Anglo-Saxon England and it is interesting to compare this work with Orkneyinga Saga: The History of the Earls of Orkney (Penguin Classics) and The Journey Through Wales and The Description of Wales (Penguin Classics), both of which provide additional views into the religious sentiments of the Middle Ages. Secondly, he provides one of only a few early histories of the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons.
I found the translation to be quite accessible and easy to read, though in a few places it probably could have done with a few more footnotes. For example, Bede's insistence that the main ethnic groups in Britain were the Irish, the Welsh, the Picts, and the English makes sense if you realize that the Scots were considered Irish, and indeed that "Scotia Major" was a name for Ireland, but if you don't have this background it is a bit confusing. All in all these were minor problems however and did not overly detract from reading the work.
This is one of the primary sources for studying early Anglo-Saxon history.
- Amazon Customer Review
• An Extraordinary Book
02 February, 2007
Bede's marvellous history of England from the invasion of Julius Caesar up until his own time (the early 8th century) is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. The England of Bede's day was an amazing place, full of kings and saints and miracles. Remarkable things happen in every chapter. Scenes from history are brought vividly to life, the invasion of Britain, the martyrdom of St Alban, the Anglo-Saxon slave children with their 'angelic' faces. The women who appear in the book are all courageous and gifted, Christian Queens converting their Pagan husbands, female saints performing miracles, powerful Abbesses ruling communities of men and women. What a thrilling age it was, and how dull and colourless our own time seems by comparison.
- Amazon Customer Review
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