Staročeské biblické předmluvy

Product detailed description

Biblical prologues, i.e. introductions to biblical books, were a common part of the Latin Vulgate in the Middle Ages. In a limited number, prologues became part of the earliest translation of the entire Bible into Czech from the early 1450s. As part of the new version of the Old Czech translation of the Bible, a complete translation of more than a hundred prefaces was probably made around 1400. Throughout the 15th century, the prefaces were further used, modified, and also newly translated. This book presents a critical edition of 124 Old Czech biblical prefaces, both texts translated from Latin and several original Old Czech prefaces. The text itself is annotated, including the identification of quotations from the Bible and other authorities, and including various readings from all identified copies of the preface. The edition is preceded by studies on the Old Czech translation of the biblical prologues and on their illuminative decoration (with illustrations). The book includes indexes and appendices, which, in addition to lists of Latin and Czech prologues, contain, among other things, the most complete list of Old Czech biblical sources to date.