Ecclesiastical History, Volume II - Books 4–5. Lives of the Abbots. Letter to Egbert

Bede 'the Venerable, ' English theologian and historian, was born in AD 672 or 673 in the territory of the single monastery at Wearmouth and Jarrow. He was ordained deacon (691- 2) and priest (702- 3) of the monastery, where his whole life was spent in devotion, choral singing, study, teaching, discussion, and writing. Besides Latin he knew Greek and possibly Hebrew. Bede's theological works were chiefly commentaries, mostly allegorical in method, based with acknowledgment on Jerome, Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory, and others, but bearing his own personality. In another class were works on grammar and one on natural phenomena; special interest in the vexed question of Easter led him to write about the calendar and chronology. But his most admired production is his "Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation." Here a clear and simple style united with descriptive powers to produce an elegant work, and the facts diligently collected from good sources make it a valuable account. Historical also are his "Lives of the Abbots" of his monastery, the less successful accounts (in verse and prose) of Cuthbert, and the "Letter" (November 734) "to Egbert" his pupil, so important for our knowledge about the Church in Northumbria. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Bede's historical works is in two volumes.

About the author

John Edward King (1858–1939) was Fellow and Tutor of Lincoln College, Oxford; High Master of Manchester Grammar School; and Headmaster of Bedford School and Clifton School.

Product details

• Authors: Bede
• Assisted by: John Edward King (Translation), King John Edward (Translation)
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.1930
• EAN: 9780674992733
• ISBN: 978-0-674-99273-3
• Dimensions: 108 mm x 162 mm x 29 mm
• Weight: 327 g
• Illustrations: Index
• Series: Loeb classical library
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Essays, RELIGION / Christianity / History, RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Essays, Christianity, History of Religion, Literary essays, The Early Church