Printed Saints: Life and Afterlife of Ethiopian Saints from Parchment to Paper - (Texts and Studies in Eastern Christianity) (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Printed Saints: Life and Afterlife of Ethiopian Saints from Parchment to Paper delves into a largely unexplored area of Ethiopian studies: the transition of Gǝʿǝz (Ethiopic) hagiography from manuscript to print. While prior researches by Western scholars have focused on editing and analyzing individual Gǝʿǝz hagiographies, almost none have explored the vibrant world of printed popular editions that continue to be published and cherished in Ethiopia since the introduction of printing press in the country. This monograph, therefore, offers a unique perspective on this crucial shift in transmission, shedding light on the evolving forms, methodologies, procedures and interpretations of these stories as they move from sacred manuscripts to widely accessible printed texts.

About the Author

Mersha Alehegne Mengistie, Associate Professor of Ethiopian Studies, philologist, literary scholar, cultural activist and published scholar of numerous articles, books and monographs, including The Ethiopian Commentary on the Book of Genesis: Critical Edition and Translation (Aethiopistische Forschungen, 73, 2010).