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Ruling by the Book

In the British Library, Dr Janina Ramirez unlocks the secrets of illuminated manuscripts of the first Anglo-Saxon rulers to create a united England.

Dr Janina Ramirez unlocks the secrets of illuminated manuscripts that were custom-made for kings and explores the medieval world they reveal. She begins her journey with the first Anglo-Saxon rulers to create a united England, encountering books in the British Library's Royal manuscripts collection which are over a thousand years old and a royal family tree which is five metres long.

Janina finds out about a king who had a reputation for chasing nuns and reads a book created as a wedding gift for a ten-year-old prince. She roams from Westminster Abbey to other ancient English spiritual sites such as Winchester, St Albans and Malmesbury, and sees for herself how animal skins can be transformed into the finest vellum.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 24 Aug 2016 02:30

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Janina Ramirez
Writer Janina Ramirez
Producer Peter Sweasey
Director Peter Sweasey

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