Animals on the Edge

From Exotic Beasts to Nonhuman Transcendence

Edited by Katja Falt

Image coming soon

Extent: 176 pages

Publisher: Trivent Publishing

Subjects: Medieval Studies

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(December 2023)

ISBN: 9786156696083

Price: $63.00

On back order

PDF (Published)

(December 2023)

ISBN: 9786156696106

Price: $63.00

Was there a horse sense in the medieval period? Why did word-licking dogs inhabit manuscript borders? The seven intriguing articles in this publication explore animals on the edge and the boundaries between humans and animals. These articles provide insights into the discussions in animal studies and medieval studies about the multiple roles of medieval fauna, challenging our understanding of how animals were understood in the Middle Ages. The authors of the articles demonstrate how humans have always constructed animals but also have been constructed by animals. The examples are drawn from manuscripts, fables, textual and visual accounts, as well as material culture. This publication raises interesting aspects about the profound and ambiguous relationship between animals and humans, edges and boundaries, hybridity and anthropomorphism, ideas and identities.


Was there a horse sense in the medieval period? Why did word-licking dogs inhabit manuscript borders? The seven intriguing articles in this publication explore animals on the edge and the boundaries between humans and animals. These articles provide insights into the discussions in animal studies and medieval studies about the multiple roles of medieval fauna, challenging our understanding of how animals were understood in the Middle Ages. The authors of the articles demonstrate how humans have always constructed animals but also have been constructed by animals. The examples are drawn from manuscripts, fables, textual and visual accounts, as well as material culture. This publication raises interesting aspects about the profound and ambiguous relationship between animals and humans, edges and boundaries, hybridity and anthropomorphism, ideas and identities.

  • Edited by Katja Falt