Wolfert S. van Egmond, Conversing with the Saints: Communication in Pre-Carolingian Hagiography from Auxerre(Turnhout, 2006: USML 15), x+230 pp. ISBN 2-503-51760-9.

Early medieval hagiographical texts abound with vivid descriptions of acts of communication. Such descriptions in the hagiography written in the diocese of Auxerre during the Merovingian period are studied here in an attempt to establish the status of the written word vis-à-vis other means of communication, such as the spoken word or rituals. For this purpose, the dating of each source is reconsidered. The texts were written within the clerical community of Auxerre and mostly relate in some way to Germanus, the most renowned bishop of Auxerre (first half of the fifth century). Although the Vita Germani by Constantius was not written in Auxerre nor for an Auxerrois audience, it is included in the analysis, since it has exerted a profound influence on the later hagiographical narratives produced in the diocese. This study demonstrates that the authors of these texts were very much aware of the limitations of the written word as well as of the advantages and importance of non-written communication.

Contents:

Chapter 1. Introduction

Hagiography and historiography: a problem of genre – The Carolingian authors – Alagus and Rainogala – Heiric – Relationships between the Carolingian texts

Chapter 2. Constantius’ Vita Germani: An Author and His Text

The author – Distribution of the Vita Germani – Purposes of the Vita Germani – Historiography – Conclusion

Chapter 3. Communication in the Vita Germani

Written communication – Oral communication – Non-verbal communication – Conclusion

Chapter 4. The Merovingian Sources

The historical background – The Martyrologium Hieronymianum – The Vita sancti Amatoris episcopi Autissiodorensis – The Vita sancti Peregrini episcopi Autissiodorenses – The Passio sancti Prisci et sociorum eius – The Passio sancti Albani – The Revelatio Corcodemi seu conversio Mamertini – The Vita sancti Germani interpolata – The Vita sancti Aunarii episcopi Autissiodorensis – The Vita sancti Mariani monachi – A lost Vita sancti Marsi? – Conclusion

Chapter 5. Communication in the Merovingian Texts Education, literacy and Holy Scripture – Exorcisms and other communication with the supernatural – Gesture and ritual – Early medieval liturgy and its sources – The marriage of Amator and Martha – Baptism – Conclusion

Chapter 6. Preliminary Conclusions

Bibliography