Roger of Wendover's Flowers of History (v.02) - Medieval England

In this review of Roger of Wendover's Flowers of history (v.02), the bottom line is simple: this reprint is for readers and researchers who need access to a digitized version of a medieval chronicle covering England to A.D. 1235. The edition is chiefly valuable because it reproduces material from the University of California Libraries' mass digitization program, making a rare historical text available in printed form. The reviewer found it most useful for background reading, citation checks, and for those who prefer a paper copy of a work otherwise accessible in the HathiTrust Digital Library.

Key Features

• Digitized source: The book is reproduced from digital images created by the University of California Libraries, ensuring the content matches the library copies used in research.
• Mass digitization process: Automated cleaning and preparation were applied to the images, which helps produce a clear printed text for reading and reference.
• Historical scope: The volume covers the history of England from the descent of the Saxons up to A.D. 1235, offering long-span chronological material for medieval studies.
• Accessible reprint: The reprint makes a scarce academic resource available to readers who prefer physical books rather than exclusively online access.
• Provenance noted: The description explicitly cites the University of California Libraries and HathiTrust, which helps verify the edition's origin for scholarly use.

Who It's For

This edition is best for history students, independent scholars, and general readers with a focused interest in medieval England who need a faithful reproduction of a primary-secondary source compilation. It suits those who cite older works or want a paper backup to the online scans in the HathiTrust Digital Library.

Those seeking a modern critical edition with new annotations, updated commentary, or extensive editorial corrections should look elsewhere; this reprint preserves the original images and the automated cleaning means editorial intervention is limited.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Faithful reproduction of library-held copies makes it useful for citation and historical reference.
• Printed format provides a tangible alternative to online scans for focused reading and archival use.
• Clear acknowledgment of the digital source and provenance supports academic transparency.

Cons

• Automated cleaning may leave occasional flaws carried over from the original or introduced during digitization, so the text is not a modern critical edition.

Specifications

Title	Roger of Wendover's Flowers of history (v.02)
Coverage	History of England to A.D. 1235
Source	Digitized from University of California Libraries collections
Preparation	Images cleaned via automated mass digitization processes
Availability	Reprinted from digital images; original also available in HathiTrust Digital Library
Former attribution	Formerly ascribed to Matthew Paris

Our Verdict

Roger of Wendover's Flowers of history (v.02) is a practical reprint for readers who need access to a historical compilation preserved in university collections; it is good value for those seeking authenticity to the original scans and a physical copy. Researchers needing scholarly editing or corrected text should consider a critical edition instead, but for archival reproduction this volume serves its purpose well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a modern critical edition?
Answer. No, this is a reprint from digitized images with automated cleaning rather than a newly edited critical edition.

Where did the digitized images come from?
Answer. The images were created through the University of California Libraries' mass digitization efforts and are linked to records in the HathiTrust Digital Library.

Will the book contain scanning flaws?
Answer. Occasionally flaws may persist from the original work or be introduced during digitization, as noted in the description.