The Czech Legend of St Catherine of Alexandria: The Text and Its Contexts (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781843847151)

The first complete translation of a fascinating piece of Czech literature.

The virgin martyr St Catherine was one of the pre-eminent and most popular saints in the Middle Ages, her legend spreading far and wide throughout Europe. A Bohemian version of her Vita was written in the second half of the fourteenth century, probably for the court of Emperor Charles IV in Prague; it is a fascinating account of her life and passion, with many unique features. However, partly because of the language barrier, it has received relatively little attention.

This book provides the first complete translation of this important text. It is accompanied by a full, interdisciplinary introduction, which places the legend in its cultural and historical context, and emphasizes both the importance of the Dominican friars as court writers and the prominence of royal and noble women as patrons and consumers of their work. It also highlights the numerous representations of Catherine in contemporary art. Meanwhile, elucidatory notes to the translation illuminate its most important features.

Author: Alfred Thomas
ISBN-10: 1843847159
ISBN-13: 9781843847151
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Language: English
Published: 04/16/2024
Pages: 112
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.43w x 0.38d