The volume has three sections: introductions by two of the leading exponents worldwide: Michael Clanchy and Marco Mostert; a series of essays by members of the Utrecht 'Pionierproject Verschriftelijking' which consider writing and written culture against the background of all forms of communication available to a given medieval society, both in western and east-central Europe; and a comprehensive bibliography on the subject, comprising 1500 titles which will serve as a fundamental starting-point for work in this field.