BESTIARY

This Bestiary, MS Bodley 764, was produced around the middle of the thirteenth century and is of singular beauty and interest. The l ively illustrations have the freedom and naturalistic quality of the later Gothic style, and make dazzling use of colour. This book reproduces the 136 illuminations to the same size and in the same place as the original manuscript, fitting the text around them. Ri chard Barber's translation from the original Latin is a delight to read, capturing both the serious intent of the manuscript and its charm.