Understanding Monastic Practices of Oral Communication (Western Europe, Tenth-Thirteenth Centuries) ed. by Steven Vanderputten (review)

A comprehensive exploration of oral communication practices within monastic orders during the tenth to thirteenth centuries in Western Europe reveals that monastic culture, traditionally seen as literate-dominated, relied significantly on diverse and sophisticated non-literary communicative media. This collection of essays challenges conventional assumptions about the role of spoken and written word in monastic life, delving into quotidian speech politics, liturgical practices, memory transmission, and educational strategies. Through a series of case studies—ranging from Ekkehard of St Gall's histories to Cistercian reforms and Carolingian dynastic narratives—the volume illustrates the complex interplay between oral traditions, material culture, and monastic identity. Edited by Steven Vanderputten, this work synthesizes findings from a 2008 Ghent University conference, offering new perspectives on high medieval intellectual culture and the nuanced dynamics of monastic communication.

(Ed.). (2012). Understanding Monastic Practices of Oral Communication (Western Europe, Tenth-Thirteenth Centuries) ed. by Steven Vanderputten (review). Parergon, 29(2), 316–318. https://doi.org/10.1353/pgn.2012.0087