The Irish Hand

Incorporating high quality digital images of the works of Irish scribes through the centuries, this revised and expanded edition of The Irish Hand has long been regarded as the standard work on Irish Manuscripts. The extraordinary stories of the survival of these volumes provide a commentary on the cultural history of Ireland, its language, scholars and scribes.

Part One presents a survey of the manuscript tradition, followed by essays on thirty-one of the great books of Ireland. The context, contents, and history if each manuscript are given, accompanied by a full-page illustration.

Part Two surveys the work of the scribes from a practical perspective, examining script, and lettering in detail. Extracts are given from fifty-two manuscripts, transliterated and translated, with a commentary on the pen work.

The perfect book for those who want to look a bit deeper at Ireland's manuscripts and scribes.