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The Medieval Church · c. 1167–1185
The Garden of Delights
Hortus Deliciarum
Herrad of Landsberg · c. 1130–1195
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What it is
An illustrated compendium of theology, history, and natural science compiled by an abbess for the education of her nuns, with over three hundred miniatures.
Why it lasted
The first encyclopaedia known to be compiled by a woman. The manuscript burned in 1870 and survives only in copies made beforehand.
Where to read it
Public domain and free to read in full, though not held here. The archives below have it.
These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.
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