Scrolls have always been shrouded by a kind of aura, a quality of
somehow standing outside of time. They hold our attention with their
age, beauty, and perplexing format. Beginning in the fourth century, the
codex--or book--became the preferred medium for long texts. Why, then,
did some people in the Middle Ages continue to make scrolls?
In The Role of the Scroll, music professor and historian Thomas
Forrest Kelly brings to life the most interesting scrolls in medieval
history, placing them in the context of those who made, commissioned,
and used them, and reveals their remarkably varied uses. Scrolls were
the best way to keep ever-expanding lists, for example, those of
debtors, knights, and the dead, the names of whom were added to existing
rolls of parchment through the process of "enrollment." While useful for
keeping public records, scrolls could also be extremely private.
Forgetful stage performers relied on them to recall their lines--indeed,
"role" comes from the French word for scroll--and those looking for luck
carried either blessings or magic spells, depending on their personal
beliefs. Finally, scrolls could convey ceremonial importance, a purpose
that lives on with academic diplomas.
In these colorful pages, Kelly explores the scroll's incredible
diversity and invites us to examine showy court documents for empresses
and tiny amulets for pregnant women. A recipe for turning everyday metal
into gold offers a glimpse into medieval alchemy, and a log of gifts for
Queen Elizabeth I showcases royal flattery and patronage. Climb William
the Conqueror's family tree and take a journey to the Holy Land using a
pilgrimage map marked with such obligatory destinations as Jaffa, where
Peter resurrected Tabitha, and Ramada, the city of Saint Joseph's birth.
A lively and accessible guide, The Role of the Scroll is essential
reading--and viewing--for anyone interested in how people keep record of
life through the ages.
