Bestiary
Bestiaries give a unique insight into the mediaeval mind, relating their primary function as natural history to giving moral examples (the busy bee, the stubborn ass, the faithful dog) and revealing mystical meaning (the phoenix as a symbol of Christ’s resurrection). In this book, Richard Barber gives an easy-to-read English translation of MS Bodley 764, a thirteenth century bestiary notable for the quality of its illustrations, here produced in full, in colour and actual size. He has also kept to the book’s original layout. Barber’s translation vividly captures the charm of the original, as well as its serious purpose, and will be an invaluable resource for readers and writers who aspire to understand how mediaeval men and women viewed the natural world, both actual and fantastical.
