Osbern Bokenham

Caitlin Brenner (University of Texas at Austin)

Ed. by Sebastian Sobecki, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Dates

Born c. 1393
Died c. 1464

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Cultural Identities

African American

Activities

Primary

Clergyman
Poet

Resources

Bokenham's Works

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What we know about the friar and author Osbern Bokenham comes largely from the minor hints he leaves within his own writings, a rich

oeuvre

including historical, hagiographical, and theological texts commenting on the purpose of poetry and on contemporary political events. In his initial prologue to his

Legendys of Hooly Wummen

[1443-1447], he identifies himself as an Augustinain friar at Clare Priory in Suffolk and reveals that he began writing the

Legendys

on September 7, 1443 at the age of fifty years old, meaning that he was born in either 1392 or 1393 (ll. 32-40, 187-191). In this same work, in the prologue to St Faith’s legend, Bokenham also states that he was born on her feast day, October 6. He tells us in the

Legendys of Hooly Wummen

that he writes using the “language of…

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1625 words

Citation: Brenner, Caitlin. "Osbern Bokenham". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 June 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14654, accessed 22 November 2024.]