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This is a digital edition of Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Junius 11, sometimes referred to as the 'Caedmon Manuscript' (especially in earlier criticism and reproductions such as that by Sir Israel Gollancz). The DVD contains a historical introduction and codicological analysis of the manuscript, the complete texts and translations hyperlinked to sets of extremely high resolution images; there is also an extensive bibliography, diagrams illustrating the sometimes problematic structure of its gatherings or quires, and images of the manuscript's binding. The 'Screen Shots' link provides a good overall impression of the content and structure of the DVD. There is also a very robust 'Search' feature.
Of the four surviving manuscripts of Anglo-Saxon poetry, MS Junius 11 is the only one which is illustrated. This tenth-century manuscript contains four poems based on the Old and New Testaments: Genesis A and B, Exodus, Daniel, and Christ and Satan. It was given by Francis Junius in 1677 to the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
For the first time, the entire manuscript is available here in an innovative, highly accessible format. The CD contains images of each opening and each page of the manuscript, visible at high magnification, and a live transcription and translation of the poems with hyperlinks, allowing powerful global searches across the entire text.
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'Simple and
user-friendly,
but effective...
a tour de force...
a tremendous
contribution to
the world of
medieval
manuscript and
literary study.'
Medium Ævum,
Sep 2004
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It also includes high resolution images of all the drawings and initials in the manuscript, and exterior shots of its medieval binding (you'll see the manuscript as never before!). The meaning and importance of the drawings are discussed in a detailed introduction and commentary, supplemented by an extensive bibliography. Images of folios containing Francisus Junius own comments on the poems, today preserved in Oxford, Bodleian manuscripts Junius 73 and 73*, are also reproduced on the CD.
This exciting, ground-breaking CD will appeal to all scholars and students of Anglo-Saxon literature, art, history and culture, as well as to bibliophiles and collectors.
Viewing the Manuscript and Images
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Full-colour high resolution images of the entire manuscript
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High magnification of each image, allowing detailed viewing
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Close-up views of all initials
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Simultaneous view of entire page and selected detail of the page
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Life-like magnifier, movable across the page, activated by clicking on the facsimile
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Images of the exterior of the manuscript and internal binding strips
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Thumbnail views of the entire manuscript at a glance
Reading and Searching the Text
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Complete, hyperlinked transcription of the entire text of the manuscript
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Translation of each poem with hyperlinks to transcription and manuscript images
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Transcription can be viewed in either line or verse mode, with linked images
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Introductory essay, art-historical commentary, and textual notes
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Global text-search facility, covering transcription, translation, introduction, bibliography and notes
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Search results linked to manuscript pages and transcription simultaneously
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