history
Manuscript fragments hiding in plain sight shed light on medieval Guernsey’s literary life
Researchers say texts from 12th to 15th centuries ‘hint at a culture which has not even been imagined’
TL;DR
- 17 medieval manuscript fragments from the 12th to 15th centuries have been discovered on Guernsey.
- The fragments provide evidence of a wide range of reading tastes, including secular French literature and non-religious texts.
- Previously, the literary culture of medieval Guernsey was largely unknown.
- The fragments were found incorporated into practical bindings of 16th and 17th-century records.
- Discoveries were made by Island Archives staff in collaboration with experts from the University of Kent and the University of Oxford.
- The texts indicate that French was a significant literary language on Guernsey during this period.
- One fragment contains a rare version of a secular play, L’Estoire de Griseldis, written by Philippe de Mézières.
- Bible fragments, including one in Latin, were also found.
- Academics suggest further fragments may be waiting to be discovered.
- An academic study day on the discoveries is planned for September 10th.