Description: Thomas Becket's life was lived on a European stage, his cause was conducted in a European setting, and the cult of the new martyr spread with extraordinary rapidity to the furthest reaches of Latin Christendom before the end of the twelfth century. Based on the critical examination of manuscripts and texts, this collection focuses first on the papal curia and Becket's household in exile. Studies deal with Becket's letters and their authorship and trace the explosion of Becket's cult, the transmission of hagiographical and liturgical texts to France, Germany, and Portugal, and the role of diverse agencies of dissemination.
Review Quotes: 'Anne Duggan's established reputation as an authority on Thomas Becket is further justified in this work. ...the book provides an excellent and exhaustive study of the life, death, and cult of Becket, portraying a vivid picture of the fascinating cleric who was pivotal in the political, social, and ecclesiological development of medieval Europe.' Medium Aevum