The origin, growth, and characteristics of English medieval libraries

Abstract

A narrative of libraries falls, as normally, into the four periods usually known as Oriental, Classical, Medieval, and Modern, as does a narrative of political events. There are certain distinguishing characteristics belonging to each of these periods which tend to separate them, though there are general characteristics which make them closely akin. It is the author's intention to briefly characterize the libraries of these separate ages, for the purpose of more accurately placing libraries of the English Medieval period in their proper perspective.