Typical and Unique: John Capgrave’s The Solace of Pilgrimes Reconsidered
Author(s)
Date Issued
2021
Type
article
Volume
84
Start Page
9
End Page
35
Journal
Abstract
Since his re-emergence in the nineteenth century, and although the general underestimation of fifteenth-century literature may now be viewed as a thing of the past, the Augustinian friar John Capgrave (1393-1464) has remained until recently a disregarded, mischaracterised and, in some cases, harshly criticised author. Attention on him has so far been limited to the efforts of a handful of scholars, and dedicated studies of his surviving works and the manuscripts that contain them remain relatively few in number. Recent scholarship has effectively shown that many of the criticisms traditionally aimed at him are grounded in approaches to his writings that fail fully to recognise the context in which they were produced. As a result, his rehabilitation is now well underway.
Capgrave’s guide to the antiquities and churches of Rome, suggestively entitled The Solace of Pilgrimes, represents an exception within the author’s extensive production of biblical commentaries, theological treatises, and historical and hagiographical works. Although in the last few decades it has been increasingly quoted in articles and books, and apart from a few studies, it did not yet receive the degree of scholarly attention it would actually deserve. The aim of this essay is to shed new light on the significance and historical value of the Solace, whilst also offering some insights into the current state of scholarship on this fascinating work and its author.
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Daniela Giosuè-Capgrave, Solace - Analecta Augustiniana 2021.pdf
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