Introduction

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Illustrations ix
4. Introduction 1
5. Chapter 1. Narrating the Saint’s Works: Conversations, Personal Stories, and the Making of Cults 9
6. Chapter 2. To Experience What I Have Heard: Plotlines and Patterning of Oral Miracle Stories 28
7. Chapter 3. A Drop from the Ocean’s Waters: Lantfred of Fleury and the Cult of Swithun at Winchester 47
8. Chapter 4. Fruitful in the House of the Lord: The Early Miracle Collections of Goscelin of St.-Bertin 60
9. Chapter 5. They Ought to be Written: Osbern of Canterbury and the First English Miracle Collectors 79
10. Chapter 6. Obvious Material for Writing: Eadmer of Canterbury and the Miracle-Collecting Boom 92
11. Chapter 7. What the People Bring: Miracle Collecting in the Mid- to Late Twelfth Century 112
12. Chapter 8. Most Blessed Martyr: Thomas Becket’s Murder and the Christ Church Collections 139
13. Chapter 9. I Take Up the Burden: Benedict of Peterborough’s Examination of Becket’s Miracles 159
14. Chapter 10. Choose What You Will: William of Canterbury and the Heavenly Doctor 181
15. Conclusion: The End of Miracle Collecting 201
16. Appendix 1: Manuscripts of the Christ Church Miracle Collections for Thomas Becket 211
17. Appendix 2: The Construction of Benedict of Peterborough’s Miracula S. Thomae 215
18. Appendix 3: The Construction of William of Canterbury’s Miracula S. Thomae 221
19. List of Abbreviations 225
20. Notes 229
21. Selected Bibliography 297
22. Index 321
23. Acknowledgments 335