medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear medieval-religion colleagues,
Giovanni Amatuccio sent news to the mediev-l list of a 'new' medieval
manuscript.
According to a report in today's Repubblica, at
http://www.repubblica.it/2009/02/sezioni/cronaca/lettere-amore/
lettere-amore/lettere-amore.html?ref=hpspr1
researchers from the Arezzo branch of the University of Siena have
found (in Verona's Biblioteca capitolare) a twelfth-century *Modi
dictaminum*, giving instructions on how to write many sorts of
letters. The typology of these texts includes love letters -- not
just how men should write women, but also how women should write men.
And although the codex is from the twelfth century, some of the model
letters presented seem to have been written in the eleventh century
(including several written in the Tuscany/Emilia region).
According to the head of the research team, Francesco Stella, this is
the first medieval letter-writing guide with a chapter devoted to
love letters; and the fact that the narrator (a cleric, apparently)
instructs women would indicate the presence of a contemporary
audience of literate lay women.
Best wishes, George
--
George FERZOCO
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