Slavic Letters of St. Jerome

Julia Verkholantsev is Associate Professor in the department of Russian and East European Studies at University of Pennsylvania. She is author of Ruthenica Bohemica.

The author traces the story of St. Jerome and his letters by means of still existing glagolitic books or manuscripts, through dedication letters and foundation charters, and through certain people like Charles IV or John of Neumarkt who commissioned Slavonic books... this method of using texts to write a history can only be recommended.(The Russian Review) Verkholantsev's inclusive approach and the geographical span of her study offer invaluable depth and texture to the religious history of Western Slavic areas under Roman Catholic jurisdiction, namely Croatia, Bohemia, Silesia and Poland.... Verkholantsev's thorough analysis, based on an impressive bibliography, is a solid contribution to a subject often caught up in competing nationalistic claims.(The Medieval Review) In a fascinating niche work that combines historiography, multiculturalism, hagiography, and linguistics, Verkholantsev charts the history of an idea-the myth of Jerome's role as author of Slavic Christianity-by means of documentary and linguistic analysis of primary sources drawn from Slavic culture.(Choice) This well-researched, original, and accessible book... will prove to be an indispensable contribution and excellent addition to scholarly work available in English on many aspects of medieval and Renaissance Slavic culture.(The Catholic Historical Review) In this handsomely produced and illustrated volume, Verkholantsev weaves the intriguing story of medieval historical interpretations, misinterpretations and downright myths crafted by lowly Croatian Glagolite Benedictine monks known as glagoljasi and taken up by none other than the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV himself, resulting in the revival of the Glagolitic script in the 13th century and contributing to its survival well into the 1900s.(Journal of Croatian Studies)