A new book by Dr Sarah Bowden, Reader in German and Medieval Studies at King’s College London, sheds light on the surprising relationship between sin, penance, and literary creativity in the German-speaking lands during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Writing Sin in the German Lands 1050–1215: Confession, Penance and Textuality, published by Oxford University Press, argues that the concepts of sin and atonement were not only central to religious life in the period but also served as powerful incentives for literary experimentation. Dr Bowden explores how the demands of confession and penitential practices helped shape some of the earliest and most original writing in the German vernacular.
“I’ve enjoyed writing this book enormously!” says Dr Bowden. “There’s a large body of German-language devotional writing from the eleventh and twelfth centuries which has attracted very little attention in scholarship. But taking this writing seriously changes the way we think about devotion and atonement in the period, as well as what it means to write – and be creative – in the German language.”
Drawing from manuscript studies, literary history, and the history of penance, the book re-evaluates how we understand medieval self-perception, the rise of vernacular writing, and the role of written and performed texts in religious life. Dr Bowden’s research connects the development of penitential theology with the emergence of sustained literary production in the German language—an era when written texts began to be produced more systematically.
“Looking at confession and penance on the one hand and writing in German on the other is mutually illuminating,” Dr Bowden explains. “You can read one area through the other (and vice versa) and come up with all kinds of new perspectives on numerous significant areas of study.”
Nearly as exciting as all the Oswalding: new book out now! Writing Sin in the German Lands, 1050-1215 global.oup.com/academic/pro…
The book also offers valuable insights for scholars interested in how language, identity, and religious practice intersected during a transformative period of European history. It suggests that sin was not just a topic to be recorded—it was a driving force behind the creation of new forms of literary expression.
Initial research for the project began in 2018, when Dr Bowden held an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship for Experienced Researchers in Berlin. Her work adds to growing interest in the cultural dynamics of medieval Germany and highlights how overlooked devotional texts can reshape modern interpretations of medieval thought and creativity.
Writing Sin in the German Lands 1050–1215: Confession, Penance and Textuality is available from Oxford University Press and Amazon.
A new book by Dr Sarah Bowden, Reader in German and Medieval Studies at King’s College London, sheds light on the surprising relationship between sin, penance, and literary creativity in the German-speaking lands during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Writing Sin in the German Lands 1050–1215: Confession, Penance and Textuality, published by Oxford University Press, argues that the concepts of sin and atonement were not only central to religious life in the period but also served as powerful incentives for literary experimentation. Dr Bowden explores how the demands of confession and penitential practices helped shape some of the earliest and most original writing in the German vernacular.
“I’ve enjoyed writing this book enormously!” says Dr Bowden. “There’s a large body of German-language devotional writing from the eleventh and twelfth centuries which has attracted very little attention in scholarship. But taking this writing seriously changes the way we think about devotion and atonement in the period, as well as what it means to write – and be creative – in the German language.”
Drawing from manuscript studies, literary history, and the history of penance, the book re-evaluates how we understand medieval self-perception, the rise of vernacular writing, and the role of written and performed texts in religious life. Dr Bowden’s research connects the development of penitential theology with the emergence of sustained literary production in the German language—an era when written texts began to be produced more systematically.
“Looking at confession and penance on the one hand and writing in German on the other is mutually illuminating,” Dr Bowden explains. “You can read one area through the other (and vice versa) and come up with all kinds of new perspectives on numerous significant areas of study.”
The book also offers valuable insights for scholars interested in how language, identity, and religious practice intersected during a transformative period of European history. It suggests that sin was not just a topic to be recorded—it was a driving force behind the creation of new forms of literary expression.
Initial research for the project began in 2018, when Dr Bowden held an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship for Experienced Researchers in Berlin. Her work adds to growing interest in the cultural dynamics of medieval Germany and highlights how overlooked devotional texts can reshape modern interpretations of medieval thought and creativity.
Writing Sin in the German Lands 1050–1215: Confession, Penance and Textuality is available from Oxford University Press and Amazon.
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