Marc Michael Epstein

This is a beautifully illustrated introduction to the world of Jewish illuminated manuscripts. Marc Michael Epstein and the other contributors pay most attention to manuscripts produced in medieval and early modern Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities, but also discuss manuscripts produced elsewhere in the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia (particularly Persia) right through to the present day. The individual essays—each tackling a different aspect of these manuscripts—are clearly written and generally aimed at the general reader and are works of synthesis. However, some new ideas are advanced here as well, like Epstein's suggestion that the famous Birds' Head Haggadah be renamed the Griffin Haggadah. An interesting read, and one with illustrations to truly linger over.… (meer)