Religion and the Book in Medieval Europe: Between Manuscripts and Print

Dear Colleagues,

Today, as we navigate the transition between print and digital culture, we can clearly see that the mode of transmission always influences the use, interpretation, and social role of particular texts. This influence is especially significant in the case of texts connected to religion. The invention of print in the mid-fifteenth century has often been linked to the spread of the Protestant Reformation and considered a major factor in its success. However, the story is far more complex. Even as print technology gradually expanded in the latter half of the fifteenth century, manuscript production actually experienced an unprecedented boom, and continued to play a significant role. For some texts, print enabled a wider and faster spread; for others, it signaled their decline. Notably, books intended for personal devotional practice—such as books of hours—continued to thrive in their deluxe manuscript form well into the late 16th century. The reasons behind these varying outcomes—particularly the impact of media change on religious communities and practices—remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

We invite you to contribute your original research studies to this Special Issue, which explores the character of media change in the fifteenth century—“one of the most curious and confused periods in recorded history” (Curt F. Bühler, The Fifteenth-Century Book: The Scribes, the Printers, the Decorators, p. 15)—and its impact on religious communities and practices. We welcome research that examines the production of manuscripts and printed books, as well as their uses and roles in religious, social, and cultural contexts. While studies covering later periods are also welcome, the primary focus of this Special Issue is 1450–1500.

Potential research areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Transmission of specific texts or text types between manuscripts and print (e.g., Bibles, catechisms, prayer books, sermons, manuals, treatises, religious polemics) and their impact on religious communities.
• Scribes and printers of religious texts (textual adjustments, rewritings, and appropriations by scribes and printers; paratexts such as colophons, prologues, epilogues, and explanatory notes)—individuals and communities behind religious production.
• Uses of religious texts in manuscripts and print (readers, owners, collectors, libraries; book promotion and dissemination, book burnings).
• Materiality of devotional texts—the “matter” of religious practices (layout, composition, miscellaneity, illuminations and illustrations, tables, readers’ aids).

We ask that interested authors submit a proposed title and an abstract (200–300 words) summarizing their intended contribution before submitting a full manuscript. Please send your abstract to the Guest Editor (lucie.dolezalova@ff.cuni.cz) or to the Assistant Editor (clare.chai@mdpi.com) of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor to ensure their fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Reference

• Curt F. Bühler, The Fifteenth-Century Book: The Scribes, the Printers, the Decorators, University of Pennsylvania Press: Philadelphia, PA, USA, 1960; p. 15.

Prof. Dr. Lucie Doležalová
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• manuscripts
• scribes
• early print
• bible
• sermons
• devotional literature
• catechism
• religious reform
• polemic
• media transformation