Thomas Swalwell: A Monastic Life in Books (Library of the Written Word, 135)

Book info: Thomas Swalwell: A Monastic Life in Books (Library of the Written Word, 135) (Leather Bound, 428 pages) – Brill, 2025. Language: English.

The marginalia of Thomas Swalwell (d. 1539) in his many early printed books provide remarkable access to the interests and concerns of a typical late medieval English Benedictine monk. Devout, scholarly, and busy, he studies everything from how to assess tithes on sheep to theological differences between Muslims and Christians. He is passionate about prayer, preaching, and clerical integrity, while carrying significant administrative responsibilities within the Durham Priory. In the early years of the Reformation, his annotations reveal the impact of religious change and his response to it. Illustrated with samples of Swalwell’s marginalia and rare sheets of his manuscript notes, this volume will be a welcome addition to the collection of anyone interested in monasticism, the history of the book, or early English Reformation history. Editorial Reviews About the Author Anne T. Thayer, Ph.D. (1996), Harvard University, is Professor Emerita of Church History at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Her publications include Penitence, Preaching and the Coming of the Reformation (Ashgate, 2002) and Handbook for Curates (The Catholic University of America Press, 2011).