Oxford Medieval Texts

Oxford Medieval Texts

Original title	Medieval Texts
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Discipline	Medieval studies
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Published	1953–1965; 1967–
Media type	Print / Digital
OCLC	713874399
Website	https://global.oup.com/academic/content/series/o/oxford-medieval-texts-omt/

Oxford Medieval Texts (OMT), published by Oxford University Press, is a series of critical editions and translations of primary sources written during the Middle Ages. Focusing on works written in medieval Latin, it provides authoritative and accessible editions for medieval history, literature, theology, and intellectual life. ^[1] Its equivalent for the ancient world is Oxford Classical Texts.

Scope and purpose

The series focuses on works written between late antiquity and the end of the Middle Ages, including Latin and vernacular texts from Western Europe. Its objective is to make authoritative versions of important texts accessible to both specialists and general readers. Each volume situates texts within their historical, cultural, and intellectual context, providing tools for a nuanced understanding of medieval thought and society. ^[2]

History

The Oxford Medieval Texts series emerged from earlier British scholarly endeavours aimed at publishing critical editions of medieval sources. It began as the Medieval Texts series, published between 1953 and 1965 by Thomas Nelson, often known as Nelson’s Medieval Texts. ^[2] The Oxford series took on the Nelson titles and format.

The Nelson series was a continuation of the editorial ethos established by the monumental Rolls Series. This collection, initiated under the direction of the British Master of the Rolls, aimed to publish authoritative editions of medieval British historical sources. ^[3]

Medieval Texts refined the Rolls Series model by producing more accessible editions that incorporate facing-page translations and introductory materials to contextualize the works, combined with a more rigorous approach to textual criticism. Oxford University Press relaunched the series as Oxford Medieval Texts in 1967. ^[4]

Format

A typical volume in the series includes: ^[5]

• An introduction covering the author, context, manuscript tradition, and editorial principles
• A Latin text based on a critical comparison of manuscript sources
• A facing-page English translation in modern prose style
• A critical apparatus using selective notation to track significant variants
• Extensive explanatory and historical notes
• Concordances with previous editions, where appropriate
• Full bibliography and indices of manuscripts, biblical citations, classical and medieval sources, and general subjects

Oxford University Press makes the full series available in print and digitally through Oxford Scholarly Editions Online.

See also

• Oxford Classical Texts
• Corpus Christianorum
• Patrologia Latina
• Monumenta Germaniae Historica

References

1. Mantello, F. A. C.; Rigg, A. G., eds. (1999). Medieval Latin: an introduction and bibliographical guide. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press. p. 64. ISBN   978-0-8132-0842-8.
2. Ziolkowski, Jan M. (23 January 2012). "Medieval Latin in modern English: Translations from the nineteenth century to the present day". In Hexter, Ralph J.; Townsend, David (eds.). The Oxford handbook of medieval Latin literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 593–613. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195394016.013.0028. ISBN   978-0-19-539401-6.
3. Knowles, David (1 December 1961). "Presidential address: Great historical enterprises IV. The Rolls Series". Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. 11: 137–159. doi:10.2307/3678755. ISSN   0080-4401. JSTOR   3678755.
4. Lapidge, Michael. "Textual criticism and the literature of Anglo-Saxon England". Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, Manchester. 73 (1): 17–45. doi:10.7227/BJRL.73.1.3. JSTOR   community.28212389.
5. "Oxford Medieval Texts Style Sheet". Oxford Academic. May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.