Research Catalog

Title

The lives of Thomas Becket / selected sources translated and annotated by Michael Staunton.

Publication

Manchester, UK ; New York : Manchester University Press : Distributed exclusively in the USA by Palgrave, 2001.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Staunton, M. (Michael)

Description

[xii], 255 p. : maps; 23 cm.

Summary

This collection tells the story of Thomas Becket's turbulent life, violent death and extraordinary posthumous acclaim in the words of his contemporaries. The only modern collection from the twelfth-century Lives of Thomas Becket in English and features all his major biographers, including many previously untranslated extracts. Providing both a valuable glimpse of the late twelfth-century world, and an insight into the minds of those who witnessed the events. By using contemporary sources, this book is the most accessible way to study this central episode in medieval history. Thomas Becket features prominently in most medieval core courses. This book allows the subject to be taught as never before, and is highly suitable as a set text.

Series Statement

Manchester medieval sources series

Uniform Title

Manchester medieval sources series.

Subject

• Thomas, à Becket, Saint, 1118?-1170
• 1154-1189
• Statesmen > Great Britain > Biography
• Christian saints > England > Biography
• Great Britain > History > Henry II, 1154-1189 > Sources

Genre/Form

• Biographies
• History
• Sources

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [246]-248) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

The road to Canterbury (?1118-62) -- Omens of future greatness (?1118) -- Thomas as a young man (c. 1138-40) -- Early training (c. 1138-54) -- Royal Chancellor (1154-62) -- Thomas's difficulties at court (1154-62) -- The chancellor's hidden piety (1154-62) -- The chancellor in diplomacy and war (1158-61) -- Thomas's promotion is predicted (?1161-62) -- Henry informs Thomas of his design (1161-62) -- Thomas's reluctance is overcome (spring 1162) -- Election as archbishop (May 1162) -- From election to consecration (May-June 1162) -- Change of life (1162) -- Thomas as archbishop -- Conflict with the king (1162-64) -- Initial harmony (1162-64) -- Beginning of the troubles (summer 1163) -- Early disputes (summer 1163) -- The Council of Westminster (October 1163) -- Thomas is persuaded to submit to the royal customs (winter 1163-64) -- The Constitutions of Clarendon (January 1164) -- Thomas laments his compliance (January 1164) -- Thomas attempts to flee (August-September 1164) -- The Council of Northampton (6-12 October 1164) -- Exile (1164-66) -- The flight from Northampton (October 1166) -- Reflections on the flight -- Thomas's itinerary (October-November 1164) -- Discussions with the pope at Sens (November 1164) -- Henry's measures against Thomas (Christmas 1164) -- Thomas's learning at Pontigny (1164-66) -- Thomas's asceticism at Pontigny (1164-66) -- Thomas decides on vigorous action (spring 1166) -- Thomas's clerks meet the king (1 May 1166) -- Excommunications at Vezelay (12 June 1166).

ISBN

• 0719054540 (hc.)
• 0719054559 (pbk.)

LCCN

^^2001044104

OCLC

• 46907675
• SCSB-10904059

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library