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Hidden Hands
Hidden Hands: The Lives of Manuscripts and Their Makers | Mary Wellesley
5 posts | 2 read | 12 to read
Manuscripts teem with life. They are not only the stuff of history and literature, but they offer some of the only tangible evidence we have of entire lives, long receded. Hidden Hands tells the stories of the artisans, artists, scribes and readers, patrons and collectors who made and kept the beautiful, fragile objects that have survived the ravages of fire, water and deliberate destruction to form a picture of both English culture and the wider European culture of which it is part. Without manuscripts, she shows, many historical figures would be lost to us, as well as those of lower social status, women and people of colour, their stories erased, and the remnants of their labours destroyed. From the Cuthbert Bible, to works including those by the Beowulf poet, Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, Sir Thomas Malory, Chaucer, the Paston Letters and Shakespeare, Mary Wellesley describes the production and preservation of these priceless objects. With an insistent emphasis on the early role of women as authors and artists and illustrated with over fifty colour plates, Hidden Hands is an important contribution to our understanding of literature and history.
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shanaqui
shanaqui
Hidden Hands: The Lives of Manuscripts and Their Makers | Mary Wellesley
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Pickpick

This was just the sort of thing I wanted right now during my exam revision period; I don't have the brainspace to get absorbed in people's emotional ups and downs too much, I just want to read about interesting things. I really liked the section on the family's letters, which was not what I expected from this book... really wished it would discuss the Gawain-manuscript or something instead of Beowulf like everyone else does.

shanaqui #BookSpinBingo progress continues. I know I said I'd like to get more lines than last month, but with my exams coming that might be a silly idea. 3y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
Hidden Hands: The Lives of Manuscripts and Their Makers | Mary Wellesley
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Great article - especially love the description of the ‘actor‘ making a whole act of every word on the page - and in doing so loosing the story!

Tagged is a book I loved on audio!

https://www.vulture.com/2022/05/audiobook-performer-actor-reader-good-bad.html?u...

Oryx Interesting article - thanks for sharing. The narrator does make a huge difference to the experience 3y
50 likes1 comment
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
Hidden Hands: The Lives of Manuscripts and Their Makers | Mary Wellesley
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A great read about the general unreliableness of anything you read in print! Pretty cover, really engaging narrative - spotlighting the role of women that is so often written out of the story - plus fab photos!

Chrissyreadit This book looks like an immersive experience ❤️ 3y
Mitch @Chrissyreadit I love that scribes would put secret messages and their opinions on the story onto the page! 3y
BookNAround This is gorgeous. I have some amazing photographs of manuscripts from my trip to Italy several years ago. Something about illuminated manuscripts thrill my soul. 3y
Chrissyreadit @Mitch I had no idea of that- that is fascinating. And I‘m sure a forgotten way to store secret information. 3y
73 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Mitch
Mitch
Hidden Hands: The Lives of Manuscripts and Their Makers | Mary Wellesley
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Pickpick

I knew next to nothing about ancient manuscripts & Wellesley takes us on a fascinating journey meeting authors, scribes, collectors, religious folk, historians & illustrators. She makes it so engaging - in detective mode she examines the words on the page, the stories behind those words and what's missing. She relooks with a modern eye, bringing diversity & women back into the history of time. It was both informative and engaging.I learnt to much!

78 likes6 stack adds
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
Hidden Hands: The Lives of Manuscripts and Their Makers | Mary Wellesley
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I‘ve just finished a novel that was beautiful and heart wrenching. So next up - something that feels a little bit safer emotionally! Although I could be wrong !

Lcsmcat That‘s a beautiful cover. 3y
iread2much That looks lovely! 3y
DGRachel The cover is stunning! 3y
85 likes3 stack adds3 comments