Mediating Mysticism. Approaches to Mystical Books in the Erfurt Charterhouse

• Applicant: Dr. Balázs J. Nemes
• Subject Area: German Medieval Studies (Medieval German Literature)
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 535052850

The project centres on contemporary approaches to historical book collections to explore how ‘mysticism’ was established as a category of classification in a medieval library. In this respect, the project focuses on the mediation of books deemed to be ‘mystical’ by key agents in Erfurt library. Therefore the project continues research conducted in the first funding phase by expanding the range of material and by introducing a new methodological framework. The Digital Genetic Edition of relevant shelfmarks in the medieval library catalogue (URL: https://making-mysticism.org/edition/1.0/html/) provides one of the central research objects. This edition, created in the first funding phase, brought to light those books, which the medieval librarian Jakob Volradi and his associate Brother N. considered as mystical texts. In addition, the project seeks to analyse the literary culture of Erfurt Carthusians, specifically the librarians’ practices of collecting, reading and writing in order to develop a nuanced understanding of different approaches to mystical books. This investigation is based on exemplary Latin and vernacular authors, which were allocated to shelfmarks D (theologia mystica) and I (revelationes): Jean Gerson (D), Johannes Tauler (D) and Mechthild of Magdeburg (I). Priority is given to the philological task of scrutinising textarchaeological contexts, which enable a new understanding of distinguishing specific approaches to mystical books in Erfurt charterhouse. The selected authors give testimony to particular treatments of mystical books. Research findings will not only be documented through academic publications, but also communicated to the general public. For outreach and public engagement, an exhibition is planned at The Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek Weimar entitled “Bibliotheca Mystica. Mystical Books of Silent Monks", for which the project team will also produce an exhibition guide.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants