Palaeography (study & history of writing) – The Bell Bookshop https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk Henley-on-Thames Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:20:18 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-Bell-Background-Blue-32x32.png Palaeography (study & history of writing) – The Bell Bookshop https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk 32 32 The hours of Richard III https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/the-hours-of-richard-iii/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=37747 A deep dive into the text of Richard III's personal prayer and Book of Hours

]]> As a person’s religious convictions, especially in times past, can be considered fundamental to their character and behaviour, the nature of King Richard III’s piety has been the subject of considerable debate. Much of this controversy has focused on the Book of Hours adopted by the king for his own private use following his coronation, and to which certain prayers, including that known as the ‘Prayer of Richard III’, were added.

In The Hours of Richard III Ricardian experts Anne F. Sutton and Livia Visser-Fuchs explore the manuscript and the prayer’s text. The manuscript (now preserved in Lambeth Palace Library) was originally produced in London around 1420 and the text shows the preoccupations of a devout man of the fifteenth century, while its decoration showcases the development of London manuscript illumination during that period. Moreover, in this analysis of the manuscript, the authors offer an insight into the personality of Richard III, one of the most controversial figures in medieval history.

]]> A History of Writing https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/a-history-of-writing/ Thu, 10 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/a-history-of-writing/ From the earliest scratches on stone and bone to the languages of computers and the internet, A History of Writing offers an investigation into the origin and development of writing throughout the world. Illustrated with numerous examples, this book offers a global overview in a form that everyone can follow. The author also reveals his own discoveries made since the early 1980s, making it a useful reference for both students and specialists as well as the general reader.

]]>