Synopses & Reviews
This is the first comprehensive study of the origins and early uses of Russian writing.
Review
"...remarkable..." Language in Society"The book is thorough yet concise. Throughout, Franklin draws broad and meaningful conclusions with very little oversimplification or overstatement. He is abreast of current theories about writing and society, but he is not constrained by them. The study should be of interest both to Slavists and to students of written culture in general. All academic libraries should order this book, as should anyone interested in early Rus'." The Russian Review
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 280-308) and index.
Synopsis
This book is about the origins, spread and uses of writing in Rus (the medieval predecessor of modern Russia, Ukraine and Belarus). However, besides writing 'in itself', the book is concerned with the complex social and cultural processes involved in the adoption of writing as a form of information technology. It is therefore also a contribution to comparative cultural studies, and is designed to be accessible to the non-specialist. The impressive scholarship and idiosyncratic wit of this volume commend it to students and specialists in Russian history and literature alike.
About the Author
Simon Franklin is a Reader in Slavonic Studies in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.
Table of Contents
Part I. The Graphic Environment: 1. The written remains; 2. Scripts and languages; 3. The changing environment; Part II. Functions and Perceptions of Writing: 4. Writing and social organisation; 5. Writing and learning; 6. Writing and pictures; 7. Writing and magic; 8. Afterword: on the social and cultural dynamics of writing.