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Alcuin of York |
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Although Alcuin's importance as a central figure in the Carolingian Renaissance has never been seriously questioned, the quality of his literary production can be considered only part of the reason for this importance. His contemporary rival Theodulf called him "nostrorum gloria vatum" (glory of our poets), but in the twentieth century even his admirers are defensive about his verse. On the other hand, modern scholars of liturgy are much interested in Alcuin. His letters, admired greatly in his own time, became models of epistolary style for later writers, both in Latin and in the vernacular. Most of the 312 letters were written between 793 and 804, the middle to the last years of his literary career. They range from short greetings, expressions of gratitude, and requests to complex compositions in a clear, unpretentious, yet demanding prose modeled on Jerome, Aldhelm, and Boniface. They deal with friendship, Christian love, humility, church politics, morality, and scientific topics; some offer advice to Charlemagne or discuss political turbulence in England.
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