Translating hell : Vernacular theology and apocrypha in the medieval North Sea

A groundbreaking comparative study of the weird apocryphal hells found in the vernaculars of medieval Ireland, England, Wales, and Iceland. This book explores how apocrypha about hell encouraged early vernacular literary experiments with hefty theological and local implications, as writers harnessed creativity in the face of uncertainty. -- .

In the Middle Ages, hell was useful because it was vaguely defined. Canonical scriptures scarcely mention hell, leaving much to the imaginations of early Christians, who used it to sort out who belonged within the faith. This book explores how hell became a place for literary experiments with local challenges in theology and identity. Following the reception and transformations of two popular hell apocrypha, it argues that they served as this role because of their liminal textual authority. As noncanonical scriptures, apocrypha afforded medieval writers space to revise their hells (since they were not actually scripture), while also encouraging readers to revere those experiments as valid (since they seemed like scripture). The book brings together adaptations from early medieval England, Iceland, Ireland, and Wales, placing the early vernacular theologies of the North Sea in comparative conversation. -- .