Bede and the Theory of Everything

Michelle P. Brown is Professor Emerita of Medieval Manuscript Studies at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and was formerly Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library. Her books include Art of the Islands (2016) and The Lindisfarne Gospels (2003).

• Introduction1.Boyhood and Monkwearmouth-Jarrow2.Bede the Monk and Priest3.Bede the Scholar and Scientist: Cosmos and Logos4.Bede, Poetry and the Origins of Written English5.Bede the English Patristic6.Bede the Historian and Reformer7.Bede the Scribe of Scripture and the Ceolfrith Bibles8.Bede and Lindisfarne9.Bede and His LegacyAppendix: Bede's CVReferencesBibliographyAcknowledgementsPhoto AcknowledgementsIndex

"Brown takes an integrated view of Bede’s life and work as a historian, scientist, scribe, poet and translator." - Eleanor Parker, History Today, ‘Books of the Year’"A leading academic believes she has identified an example of the handwriting of Bede, the medieval theologian revered as the father of English history, along with his 'lost' Old English translation of the St John’s Gospel . . . [Brown's] discoveries feature in a new book, titled Bede and the Theory of Everything." - Dalya Alberge, The Observer"Michelle P. Brown’s contribution to the burgeoning field of Bedan studies has manuscripts, and specifically the Codex Amiatinus, at its heart . . . Bede and the Theory of Everything seeks to cover all spheres of Bede’s thought and writing . . . Reaktion has produced an appropriately attractive artefact . . . Printed on high-quality paper, the book has fifty fine illustrations, forty-five in colour, supplied with extensive captions. It will, deservedly, attract many general readers, who will enjoy the accessible and colloquial style." - Sarah Foot, TLS"Michelle Brown has presented, with excellent research, a wider picture of this incredible monk . . . This beautiful book, superbly bound and lavishly illustrated with photographs (many in colour), will delight all who are interested in early British Christian history. Bede never left his native Northumberland, yet he bequeathed a literary heritage of worldwide significance and documents still useful to modern Christians. I recommend this highly readable book; it is full of facts and wisdom." - Leonard Rickard, Transforming Ministry"Michelle P. Brown, former curator of illuminated manuscripts at the British Library and an authority on the period, has written an accessible and enjoyable book that brings together the many intriguing aspects of Bede — wisdom, intellect, how he influenced contemporary thinking, some of which is still with us today. Boyhood, background, life as a monk, priest, scholar, scientist, critical thinker, Lindisfarne and Bede’s legacy are all explored in this hugely readable book . . . Bede was a remarkable man. Brown’s book demonstrates this. Writing in vibrant, accessible prose, we are taken back to English society as it was 1,300 years ago, the huge contribution the Venerable Bede made to the arts, critical thinking and the recording of history, as well as the everyday life he was part of. If you are interested in early English history plus life in medieval Britain, this is the book for you." - Sylvia Hikins, Morning Star"As Ms. Brown ably demonstrates, for Bede there was no discrepancy between his ability to study nature and to study God. They were all part of his theory of everything." - Carl Rollyson, New York Sun"While books about 'The Venerable' Bede are numerous, this author’s focus on his diverse interests offers something new. This book will serve as a good introduction to Bede and his legacy." - Medievalists.net"A wonderfully readable and comprehensive introduction to perhaps the greatest European intellectual of his era, a writer whose scholarly achievement was foundational for much of the thought of the Western Middle Ages. Michelle P. Brown succeeds in giving us a lively picture of the material surroundings of Bede's life and work as well as a solid account of his thinking." - Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury"This hugely enjoyable book reveals Bede as one who held together science and poetry, who rejoiced in both Christian and secular writing, who was dedicated to both social justice and to prayer, who honoured the different (and squabbling) parties of the church of his day, and who sought to weave the disparate people groups of these remote islands into a single tapestry – like the carpet pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels. Today, when the church is divided, society is fractious and interaction is frequently toxic, we need to attend to his harmonious vision as never before. This book will help us to do that deeply and delightfully." - Michael Lloyd, Principal of Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford"A wonderful portrait of Bede the Venerable, his world, his works, his story and his legacy. This account of the influential “scholar-scientist” introduces Bede to a new generation of readers. Authoritative, insightful and deeply informed by her rich knowledge of the early medieval centuries, Michelle P. Brown is to be congratulated on this important work." - Clare A. Lees, Professor of Medieval Literature, IES Director, and Vice Dean of the School of Advanced Study, University of London