the exeter book
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The Exeter Book
The Exeter Book• Takes its name from Exeter Cathedral in
whose library it was housed, donated by Leofric, (d.1072) first bishop of Exeter
• Originally 131 parchment leaves, 12.5”x8.6”, Bound between birch boards (German for “birch” gives English “book”) probably written by a single scribe, probably in late 10th cen.
• Largest surviving collection of OE literature; contains 31 poems, 96 riddles
The Exeter Book
• Only surviving source for most of its contents• Survived fire, storms, civil war, two world
wars but does have damage:– knife cuts suggesting its use as a cutting board– ring from a beer mug and stains from a beer spill– some missing initial leaves– large burn on several end leaves
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