Reynistaðarbók
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Reynistaðarbók (AM 764 4to) is a 14th-century Icelandic manuscript. It is formed of two main parts, the first of which is a universal history; the second is a collection of saints' sagas, miracles, exempla and annals for the years 1328–1372.[1] It is notable for preserving the only known Old Norse-Icelandic translation of the Book of Judith.[2] It also contains the miracles of St Walburga and the last few lines of a miracle of St Sunniva which do not appear in any other Icelandic manuscripts.[2]
The texts in the manuscript are drawn from a range of Old Norse-Icelandic translations of Latin works which are heavily abridged. Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir suggests that "the almost relentless emphasis on brevitas" implies that the work was intended for the schoolroom rather than to be read aloud.[3] She also suggests that the focus on Old Testament heroines implies that the work was created as a 'woman's book', suitable for the nuns that would be reading it.[4]
Paleographic and codicological evidence suggests that the manuscript was produced in Skagafjörður in northern Iceland around 1360–1380, probably at the Benedictine nunnery at Reynistaðar. Because of this, Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir has named the manuscript Reynistaðarbók.[1]
The manuscript was collected by Árni Magnússon from the farm of Gaulverjabær in southern Iceland.[2] It was previously held at the episcopal see at Skálholt.[2] Árni Magnússon acquired folio 38 separately; he took folios 39–43 from a codex of annals at Skálolt; and two further leaves (probably folios 27–28) came from Gaulverjabær via Rev. Daði Halldórsson in Steinsholt.[5]