Bibliograph

The medieval gift and the classical tradition, ideals and the practice of generosity in medieval England, 1100-1300, Lars Kjær

Type

Label

The medieval gift and the classical tradition, ideals and the practice of generosity in medieval England, 1100-1300, Lars Kjær

Language

eng

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The medieval gift and the classical tradition

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Oclc number

1119537829

Responsibility statement

Lars Kjær

Series statement

Cambridge studies in medieval life and thought. Fourth series, 114Cambridge Social Sciences eBooks

Sub title

ideals and the practice of generosity in medieval England, 1100-1300

Summary

This interdisciplinary study explores how classical ideals of generosity influenced the writing and practice of gift giving in medieval Europe. In assuming that medieval gift giving was shaped by oral 'folk models', historians have traditionally followed in the footsteps of social anthropologists and sociologists such as Marcel Mauss and Pierre Bourdieu. This first in-depth investigation into the influence of the classical ideals of generosity and gift giving in medieval Europe reveals to the contrary how historians have underestimated the impact of classical literature and philosophy on medieval culture and ritual. Focusing on the idea of the gift expounded in the classical texts read most widely in the Middle Ages, including Seneca the Younger's De beneficiis and Cicero's De officiis, Lars Kjær investigates how these ideas were received, adapted and utilised by medieval writers across a range of genres, and how they influenced the practice of generosity.--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

The gift in classical literature -- De beneficiis in medieval contexts -- Writing generosity -- Sanctifying generosity -- Romancing generosity -- Performing generosity

Creator