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Distributed for Reaktion Books

Illumino

A History of Medieval Britain in 12 Illuminated Manuscripts

Distributed for Reaktion Books

Illumino

A History of Medieval Britain in 12 Illuminated Manuscripts

Incandescent with illustrations, a history of Britain as told through a remarkable collection of illuminated manuscripts—at once chronicles of their time and works of art.
 
Illumino explores the history of medieval Britain through the biographies of twelve remarkable illuminated manuscripts and their creators. Each manuscript serves as a gateway into the lives of its makers and commissioners, and as a springboard into the era of its creation. Illuminated manuscripts are among the most intricate and fascinating forms of medieval evidence, blending literature, art, science, faith, and human thought with the materiality of their production. By undertaking the detective work needed to determine the nature of each project and the underlying human-interest stories, this book reveals their social, economic, and cultural contexts and charts the exchange of ideas and materials across time and space. Featuring over a hundred beautiful illustrations, this is a unique and accessible introduction to Britain’s history as well as art and book history over a thousand years.

256 pages | 100 color plates, 7 halftones | 6.14 x 9.21 | © 2025

History: British and Irish History

Medieval Studies


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Reviews

"Brown argues that manuscripts, hand-written and artfully decorated ancient books, encapsulate history. Each chapter of her book focuses on one manuscript that represents the century in which it was made, from the 700s through the 1400s. . . . The chapters contain detailed descriptions and full-color images of the manuscripts, along with information about the book trade, book-making technology, manuscript collections, and cross-cultural influences on book production. . . . Students of book history and general readers alike will find much to ponder and savor in this intriguing work that examines the pivotal role of the written word in medieval Britain."

Library Journal

“Any book by Brown is worth reading. [Illumino] is a terrific read as we scamper through the characters, events, monarchs, wars, laws, monasteries, scribes, authors and more using the twelve manuscripts as a focus. 'Scamper' is used here in its strict definition—'to run with quick, light steps with excitement'—because that is exactly what Brown does. She wears her depth and breadth of knowledge lightly but takes us intriguingly through the changes and developments of these periods.”

Patricia Lovett | patricialovett.com

"A masterful exploration of medieval Britain through twelve extraordinary illuminated manuscripts, each a window into the intellectual, artistic, and spiritual landscapes of its time. Few scholars know these books as intimately as Brown, who draws on her expertise as a trailblazing curator and leading researcher to enrich this book with insight into their materiality, craftsmanship, and historical resonance. With characteristic erudition and clarity, Brown brings to life the people who commissioned, created, and used these manuscripts, not only as textual artefacts but as objects of devotion, labour, and cultural exchange. By weaving palaeography, codicology, and historical narrative into a compelling whole, Illumino sheds light not only on these marvellous books, but on how these books have shaped the modern world."

Andrew Dunning, R. W. Hunt Curator of Medieval Manuscripts at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

"To read this book is to be apprenticed to a master of her craft, to imbibe a lifetime’s learning, and to learn the history of illumination (and of Britain) from its pages and its pictures. Art, history, philosophy, theology, philosophy, psychology, and culture shine through the paintings and are unpacked in Brown’s prose. Through this marvelous work, the rich adornment of the page becomes the rich adornment of our minds and imaginations."

Michael Lloyd, principal of Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford

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