Libraries and Books in Medieval England

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Focusing on the impact of King Henry VIII's suppression of religious houses, this work explores the vast loss of medieval English literature and the subsequent efforts to piece together the remnants of its libraries. It challenges the traditional view of monastic libraries as the sole sources of books, highlighting the broader book economy, including private ownership and the emergence of the book trade. Drawing from extensive scholarship, it presents a comprehensive analysis of surviving texts and medieval library catalogues, offering a fresh perspective on cultural transmission in the Middle Ages.