Hebrew Manuscripts of the Middle Ages

Hebrew manuscripts are our most important source of knowledge about Jewish intellectual, religious and everyday life in the Middle Ages, and anyone wishing to engage with medieval Jewish history needs to know about the manuscripts themselves, how to study them, and the literary genres to which they belong. Colette Sirat offers a comprehensive overview of these subjects in this illustrated introduction to Hebrew manuscript culture. This 2002 work is a considerably re-structured, extended and updated version of an earlier presentation in French. It now encompasses all aspects of Hebrew manuscripts - textual, codicological and palaeographical - combining different disciplines to give an all-embracing view of the subject. The volume has been translated from the author's revision of her earlier French book, and edited for an English readership, by leading Hebrew scholar Nicholas de Lange, who worked closely with Professor Sirat in the preparation of the new book.

'From the mundane to the sublime - there is something for everyone … in these well-illustrated pages … an elegantly produced and superb introduction to the study of Hebrew manuscripts, their scribes, and their contents that will enlighten students and scholars alike … a book written by a master of the material with a sensitive eye and a sharp reed … a tribute to the book making craft and Cambridge University Press should be praised for its aesthetic production.' The Jewish Studies Newsletter, 'Hebrew Manuscripts of the Middle Ages covers all aspects of the subject.' Geoffrey Khan, The Times Literary Supplement, 'Any medievalist will find it well worth reading … If widely read in medieval studies circles, this book will contribute to a lessening of the marginality of Jews to the study of medieval culture as a whole.' Ira Robinson, Bryn Mawr Review, 'Sirat's work is clear and direct, combining a fresh, approachable body-text with full scholarly footnotes … an elegant, eloquent key text in this as yet under-explored field.' Jewish Culture and History, 'Thanks to Sirat's profound erudition and rich experience in dealing with Hebrew manuscripts, her new book offers a treasury of information … this comprehensive introduction and useful manual is highly recommended.' European Association for Jewish Studies

Colette Sirat is Professor at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Department of History and Philology, and head of the Hebrew Department, Institut de Recherche et d'Histoire des Textes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris.