Richard Gameson is Professor of the History of the Book at Durham University.

• Preface; 1. From Vindolanda to Domesday: the book in Britain from the Romans to the Normans Richard Gameson; Part I. The Making of Books: 2. The material fabric of early British books Richard Gameson; 3. Anglo-Saxon scribes and scriptoria Richard Gameson; 4. Writing in the insular world Michelle P. Brown; 5. Script in Wales, Scotland and Cornwall Helen McKee; 6. English vernacular script Julia Crick; 7. Latin script in England c.900–1100: a. Square minuscule David Ganz; b. English Caroline minuscule Rebecca Rushforth; c. The Norman Conquest and handwriting in England to 1100 Teresa Webber; 8. The design and decoration of Insular gospel-books and other liturgical manuscripts, c.600–900 Nancy Netzer; 9. The decoration of the earliest Welsh manuscripts Nancy Edwards; 10. Book decoration in England, c.871–c.1100 Richard Gameson; 11. Book-bindings Michael Gullick; Part II. The Circulation of Books: 12. Exchanges between England and the Continent in the early Middle Ages Rosamond McKitterick; 13. The circulation of books between England and the Celtic realms Helen McKee; 14. The circulation of books between England and the Continent, c.871–c.1100 Richard Gameson; Part III. Types of Books and their Uses: 15. The book in Roman Britain R. S. O. Tomlin; 16. The use of the book in Wales, c.400–1100 T. M. Charles-Edwards; 17. The Biblical manuscripts of Anglo-Saxon England Richard Marsden; 18. Anglo-Saxon Gospel books, c.900–1066 Patrick McGurk; 19. Liturgical books Richard Pfaff; 20. Anglo-Saxon prayerbooks Barbara Raw; 21. Psalters Jane Toswell; 22. Music books Susan Rankin; 23. Anglo-Saxon schoolbooks Scott Gwara; 24. Lawbooks Patrick Wormald; 25. Manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Simon Keynes; 26. Old English homiliaries and poetic manuscripts Donald Scragg; Part IV. Collections of Books: 27. Patrick, apostle of Ireland David Howlett; 28. The library of Iona at the time of Adomnan Thomas O'Loughlin; 29. Literacy in Anglo-Saxon England M. R. Godden; 30. Aldhelm's library Andy Orchard; 31. The library of the Venerable Bede Rosalind Love; 32. The library of Alcuin's York Mary Garrison; 33. The library of Cynewulf Fiona Gameson; 34. King Alfred and his circle Rohini Jayatilaka; 35. Ælfric's library M. R. Godden; 36. The library of Byrhtferth Michael Lapidge; 37. Wulfstan of York Andy Orchard; 38. Rhygyfarch ap Sulien David Howlett; Coda Richard Gameson; Bibliography; Index of manuscripts cited; General index.

'… the essays achieve an admirable balance between the big picture and the telling details … this collection of texts is useful and stimulating for a wide readership, and a valuable introduction to the seven-volume Cambridge series …' The Times Literary Supplement