Hebrew Manuscripts of the Middle Ages [Paperback]

An illustrated 2002 introduction to Hebrew manuscript culture from the tenth to fifteenth centuries.In this illustrated introduction to Hebrew manuscript culture Colette Sirat offers a comprehensive overview of the manuscripts themselves, how to study them, and the literary genres to which they belong. A description of the history of tex ts in Hebrew reveals the range and variety of texts--many of which have never been printed. The volume has been translated from the French by leading Hebrew scholar Nicholas de Lange, who worked closely with Sirat in the preparation of the book (now considerably re-structured, extended and updated) for an English readership.In this illustrated introduction to Hebrew manuscript culture Colette Sirat offers a comprehensive overview of the manuscripts themselves, how to study them, and the literary genres to which they belong. A description of the history of tex ts in Hebrew reveals the range and variety of texts--many of which have never been printed. The volume has been translated from the French by leading Hebrew scholar Nicholas de Lange, who worked closely with Sirat in the preparation of the book (now considerably re-structured, extended and updated) for an English readership.Hebrew manuscripts are our most important source of knowledge about Jewish medieval life, and anyone wishing to engage with Jewish history needs to know about the manuscripts, how to study them, and their literary genres. Colette Sirat offers a comprehensive overview of these subjects in this illustrated introduction. The book is a re-structured, extended and updated version of an earlier presentation in French. It has been translated from the author's revision of her earlier French book, and edited for an English readership, by Hebrew scholar Nicholas de Lange.Introduction; Part I. Texts: 1. Before the Middle Ages; 2. The Middle Ages; Part II. Books: 3. Codicology; 4. Writing: calligraphic and personal subjects; 5. The scribe; Appendix. Abbreviations, al1