Monastic Wales

Janet Burton is a Professor of Medieval History at the University of Wales trinity Saint David at Lampeter, and Karen Stober is a Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Lleida, Spain.

• Introduction Janet Burton and Karen Stober Part I: Foundation, Transition and Transformation 1 The Archaeology of Monasteries in Wales and the Strata Florida Project David Austin 2 Transition and Transformation: the Benedictine Houses Janet Burton 3 Culdees to Canons: the Augustinian Houses of North Wales Karen Stober and David Austin 4 Monasteries and Urban Space in Medieval Welsh Towns Jens Rohrkasten Part II: State Building, Authority and Power 5 The Medieval Grants to Strata Florida Abbey: Mapping the Agency of Lordship Jemma Bezant 6 The Rulers of Gwynedd and Powys David Stephenson 7 Monastic Burial in Medieval Wales Andrew Abram Part III: Movement and Social Interaction 8 Pilgrimage Kathryn Hurlock 9 Travel and Communication Jemma Bezant 10 The Knights Hospitaller Helen Nicholson 11 Wales and Ireland: Monastic Links Arlene Hogan Part IV: Cultural Identity and Production 12 Monastic Patronage of Welsh Poetry Dafydd Johnston 13 Abbess Annes and the Ape Jane Cartwright 14 Manuscripts and the Monasteries Ceridwen Lloyd Morgan 15 Space in context: Interpretations of claustral spaces in Wales with special reference to Cistercian dormitories Anne Muller Bibliography

This impressive collection of essays makes an extremely valuable contribution to the study of both medieval Wales and medieval monasticism. No other volume provides such a wide-ranging picture of Welsh monastic history over the centuries from the coming of the Normans to the Reformation. Informed by the latest research, it demonstrates the impact of the monastic orders on all facets of Welsh society: from the economy to literature and book production, from politics to popular religion, in towns as well as the countryside. Sensitive to both local contexts and European connections, the contributors add significantly to our understanding of the place of Wales in medieval Christendom. Professor Huw Pryce, Bangor University