The essays in this volume, provided by experts in various different scholarly disciplines, scrutinize how the Anglo-Saxon past continued to be re-used and recycled throughout the longue durée of the twelfth century, as opposed to the early decades that are usually covered. The volume deals with a range of historical, linguistic, legal, artistic, palaeographical and cultic evidence and will become a standard reference point for students and scholars alike interested in the ways in which the Anglo-Saxon past continued to be of importance and interest throughout the twelfth century.

Introduction, Martin Brett. Part I The Anglo-Saxon Saints: The Viking hiatus in the cult of saints as seen in the 12th century, R. Bartlett; Folcard of Saint-Bertin and the Anglo-Saxon saints at Thorney, Rosalind Love; Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica as a source of lections in pre- and post-Conquest England, Teresa Webber. Part II Anglo-Saxon England in the Narrative of Britain: Danish ferocity and abandoned monasteries: the 12th-century view, Julia Barrow; Symeon of Durham's Historia de Regibus Anglorum et Dacorum as a product of 12th-century historical workshops, David Rollason; William of Malmesbury's diatribe against the Normans, R.M.Thomson; Normandy's view of the Anglo-Saxon past in the 12th century, Elisabeth van Houts; Richard of Devizes and a 'rising tide of nonsense': how Cerdic met King Arthur, John Gillingham. Part III Anglo-Saxon Law and Charter: Historical literacy in the archive: post-Conquest imitative copies of pre-Conquest charters and some French comparanda, J. Crick; The use and abuse of Anglo-Saxon charters by the kings of England, 1100-1300, Nicholas Vincent; Pre-Conquest laws and legislators in the 12th century, Bruce O'Brien. Part IV Art History and the French Vernacular: 'History' in Anglo-Norman romance: the presentation of the pre-Conquest past, Judith Weiss; The scribe looks back: Anglo-Saxon England and the Eadwine Psalter, C. Karkov; The Anglo-Saxon tradition in post-Conquest architecture and sculpture, Malcolm Thurlby. Bibliography; Indexes.