Cosmas of Prague

This monograph is the fruit of years of engagement with Cosmas’ text, previously translated by the author, Lisa Wolverton. It is a deep reading of the entire Chronicle , striving to penetrate the narrative strategies, authorial intentions, and ultimate message of the work. It will doubtless be the key point of reference for anyone using Cosmas’ text; it also stands as a strong argument in favour of a holistic approach to medieval narrative texts in general. The introduction provides guidance to the reader on the life and times of Cosmas (d. 1125), a canon and dean of the cathedral chapter in Prague. Subsequent chapters treat the work thematically, and provide a persuasive case that Cosmas’ Chronicle is a strong criticism of politics in the realm, heavily influenced by classical writers such as Sallust, Ovid, Virgil and Lucan. Cosmas did not simply use phrases from classical works, he also derived his moralistic understanding of history from them

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