William caxton golden legend book

His work became the most widely read book in europe during the middle ages. As the work had received a papal blessing caxton risked nothing by bringing out a translation. Very good original binding, fine text truly a rare beauty morriss kelmscott press produced some of the worlds finest. William caxton, golden legend, the life of saint cecilia. In worcester cathedral library we have, amongst the collection of incunabula i. The golden legend caxtons version, formatted for easy reading html and pdf. Austin the noble doctor was born in africa in the city of carthage, and was come of noble kindred. This collection of about 170 lives of the saints was the most read book during the ages of faith, second only to the holy bible. Englished by william caxton, first edition 1483, edited by f. Saint cecilia the holy virgin was come of the noble lineage of the romans, and from the time that she lay in her cradle she was fostered and nourished in the faith of christ, and always bare in her breast the gospel hid, and never ceased day ne. The book of the craft of dying, and other early english tracts.

It consists of the lives of saints together with much legendary matter plus scripture. Caxtons translation of the golden legend provided the first english edition of this highly popular compendium of saints biographies. For the first book of 2007 we feature a fifteenth century copy of the golden legend, a medieval compendium of the lives of the saints. In 1484, william caxton, the first publisher of englishlanguage books, issued the golden legend, a translation of the most wellknown collection of saints lives in europe. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Modifications included not only illustrations and changes in the arrangement of chapters. The golden legend is bridwell librarys only intact, although incomplete, book by englands first. These include two leaves from caxtons first edition of geoffrey chaucers canterbury tales, published in westminster in 1478.

Described by blades as his magnum opus a tremendous undertaking it was expensive and difficult to produce such a large scale work. Golden legend project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. William caxton, golden legend 1483 the life of saint cecilia the interpretation of the name cecilia serves as an introduction. He is thought to be the first english person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into england, which he did in 1476. Education in 1438 william caxton became an apprentice to a prominent london mercer, robert large. It was one of the first books william caxton printed in the english language. Golden legend or lives of the saints volume 2 by william. William caxton books list of books by author william caxton. Career in 1441 caxton moved to bruges, where he worked as a merchant for 30 years. The golden legend is one of the largest books caxton ever printed, a folio volume of just under 900 pages produced on extra large royal paper. William caxtons most popular book is the history of reynard the fox.

I intratext edition ct copyright eulogos 2007 see also. It also served as the first printing of significant passages of the scriptures in english. The golden legend of master william caxton done anew. From 1470 to 1530 it was also the most often printed book in europe. During the height of its popularity the book was so well known that the term golden legend was sometimes used generally to refer to any collection of stories about the saints. Blue papercovered boards, linen spines with printed paper labels. The golden legend william caxtons middle english version not quite complete. It is a massive folio volume, produced and translated by william caxton, englands first printer. When saints were saints a reminiscence of the medieval times when the lives of the saints were among the greatest stories that were told. See all books authored by william caxton, including caxton and his world the language library, and caxtons own prose the language library, and more on. This study analyzes the molding of the legenda aurea into a book that powerfully attracted the english market. French into english at the request of certain lords, ladies, and gentlemen, as the recuyel of the history of troy, the book of the chess, the history of jason, the history of the mirror of the world. William caxton was born in 1422, he said that in the weald of kent, but his exact birthplace is unknown.

Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The golden legend william caxtons middle english version, formatted for easy reading html and pdf. Books by william caxton author of the history of reynard. Caxtons version appeared in 1483 and his translation was reprinted, reaching a ninth edition in 1527. He was also the first english retailer of printed books. This translation of the golden legend by william caxton ca. William caxton has 155 books on goodreads with 38 ratings. Selections from the golden legend in the caxton translation, edited by paul halsall with annotations, rubrics, and formatting by richard stracke. Golden legend of master william caxton done anew 3 volumes. That was based on an older english translation by william caxton, but with a text modernized by f. Caxtons version appeared in 1483 and his translation was reprinted, reaching a. The golden legend, or, lives of the saints, volume 3. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons.

Jacobus, frederick startridge ellis, william caxton. It also resulted in the first printing of significant. Chapter 28 of the golden legend by jacobus voragine 1275, translated by william caxton, 1483 s t. Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages.

Each sheet of this 3volume work was made, printed and bound by hand. Cecilia is as much to say as the lily of heaven, or a way to blind men. His name was jacopo gacobus in latin, james in english. William caxton among the books which afford us an insight into the popular religious thought of the middle ages, none holds a more important place than the legenda aurea or golden legend. The author was a native of the town of varazze on the genoese riviera.