A Book of Hours

While researching the early sixteenth century in England for my novel, Fire of the Word, I discovered an intriguing Medieval devotional book, called “The Book of Hours.” These books were usually written in Latin and beautifully illuminated with pictures depicting various Biblical scenes. They were made to be used by lay people who wished to incorporate the worship of the monks and nuns cloistered away from the world, and included psalms and prayers and biblical texts from the four Gospels about Christ. They were intended to be used for spiritual devotion at various times of the day. The books also included other things, like a calendar of feasts and saints days. 

Books were extremely rare during that time period, and a Book of Hours might be the only book in the house. It could be used to teach children to read. They could be commissioned and personalized for a particular owner, or also purchased, with extra pages to include items that had special meaning. Large margins enabled the owner to write notes, or keep personal records of major life events such as marriages, births and deaths. The books could even be added to over time.With the arrival of the printing press in the late 1400’s, more and more people could own a Book of Hours. After that, only the wealthy commissioned the custom-made books that might even include their own portraits.

This Book of Hours was owned by Anne Boleyn. Her book was highly personalized, and one can get a sense of the things that she valued by viewing it. Interestingly, it even contained hand-written messages exchanged between Anne and Henry VIII. Writing in Latin at the bottom of a page depicting the passion of Christ, Henry wrote to Anne: “If you remember my love in your prayers as strongly as I adore you, I shall hardly be forgotten, for I am yours. Henry R. Forever.”

At the bottom of the page showing the Annunciation, Anne wrote to Henry: “Be daily prove ye shall find me to be to you both loving and kind.”

These books remind me of our modern journals. I wondered about the process of making these books. Who were the individuals who so painstakingly wrote the words with a quill pen made from the feathers of a goose or a swan? What hand drew the outline of the artwork, applying the gold leaf that made the illuminations sparkle and glow, and then applied the rich colors of the tempura paint? Surely it was done out of great devotion and love. These precious books became family treasures, often given as gifts and passed to posterity.

About the Author:
Carol Pratt Bradley is a historical novelist with an MFA in Creative Writing from Brigham Young University. She has three novels from WiDo Publishing:

Light of the Candle 2015
Fire of the Word 2016
Waiting for the Light 2017

Available on Amazon and WiDo Publishing's website

www.carolpbradley.com