Memorials of Saint Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury

Memorials of Saint Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury Synopsis

Dunstan was a prominent ecclesiastical figure in tenth-century England and - following his death and canonisation in 988 - the country's most popular saint for over a century; his fame was eventually eclipsed only by that of Thomas Becket. In life a close friend of King Edgar, he was influential as the king's advisor and became archbishop of Canterbury in 959. Published in 1874 as part of the Rolls Series, this work gathers together the lives, letters and other fragments of historical interest that were written to or about Dunstan. As editor, William Stubbs (1825–1901) provides English side-notes to the Latin text as well as a characteristically extensive introduction, which includes a detailed account of English monastic reform. On the subject of Dunstan, he highlights points of particular interest, ranging from questions of chronology to matters of misrepresentation and the mystery identity of biographer 'B'.