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Why?
Multiple reasons.
Then as now, writers started with rough drafts—but that’s a discussion for later (a good one).
It’s challenging to write neatly in a codex (the binding distorts the page, so the page isn’t flat).
Humans make errors; you don’t want to mess up the whole
…
Multiple reasons.
Then as now, writers started with rough drafts—but that’s a discussion for later (a good one).
It’s challenging to write neatly in a codex (the binding distorts the page, so the page isn’t flat).
Humans make errors; you don’t want to mess up the whole
…
Another factor: ‘writing support’ (= stuff for writing on) was *Not Cheap*.
This is particularly true of the most widespread support for medieval books—namely parchment. Parchment is specially-treated animal skin.
(
: Finished parchment sheets on the frames used in making it)
This is particularly true of the most widespread support for medieval books—namely parchment. Parchment is specially-treated animal skin.
(
: Finished parchment sheets on the frames used in making it)
For a large book, one sheet of parchment = one life (
/
/
).
To pick up a medieval parchment manuscript is to hold an entire herd in one hand.
1: A medieval manuscript taking an afternoon stroll.
2: Another medieval manuscript enjoying the early summer weather. 
//).To pick up a medieval parchment manuscript is to hold an entire herd in one hand.
1: A medieval manuscript taking an afternoon stroll.2: Another medieval manuscript enjoying the early summer weather.
That’s money, honey.
You aren’t going to slaughter 200 head of cattle, pay craftsmen for the WEEKS needed to turn each skin into parchment, bind all those *blank* sheets into a book, then stick it on a shelf until inspiration strikes.
[gif: “Dollar, dollar, bills y’all”]
You aren’t going to slaughter 200 head of cattle, pay craftsmen for the WEEKS needed to turn each skin into parchment, bind all those *blank* sheets into a book, then stick it on a shelf until inspiration strikes.
[gif: “Dollar, dollar, bills y’all”]
Due to the foregoing (& other issues that we won’t get into here) medieval books were modular.
The fundamental unit of the medieval manuscript is the bifolium (plural: bifolia): a single sheet folded in half.
The fundamental unit of the medieval manuscript is the bifolium (plural: bifolia): a single sheet folded in half.
This [again, as a broad rule] is what scribes producing or contributing to books wrote upon.
![This [again, as a broad rule] is what scribes producing or contributing to books wrote upon.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7I-J-tU0AEMUqx.jpg "This [again, as a broad rule] is what scribes producing or contributing to books wrote upon.")
![This [again, as a broad rule] is what scribes producing or contributing to books wrote upon.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7I-J-uU8AAbX8C.jpg "This [again, as a broad rule] is what scribes producing or contributing to books wrote upon.")
Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in
(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)
[ 2: @V_and_A]
[ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]
![Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)[ 2: @V_and_A][ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7JBX3nU0AE8BbA.jpg "Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)[ 2: @V_and_A][ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]")
![Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)[ 2: @V_and_A][ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7JBX3oV4AAKpc5.jpg "Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)[ 2: @V_and_A][ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]")
![Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)[ 2: @V_and_A][ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7JBX3mVUAEpgJo.jpg "Bifolia could be gathered together into ‘quires’ ( 1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)[ 2: @V_and_A][ 3: @FitzMuseum_UK]")
1), then stacked in order ( 2), and sewn together and bound ( 3) to create the kind of book we see Brienne of Tarth writing in(but note how the leaves below *aren’t blank*)
[
2: @V_and_A][
3: @FitzMuseum_UK]
… or not. Many manuscripts were never finished, remaining in a state of ongoing or extended production—often deliberately (but that, too, is a discussion for another time).
Note that this subtopic is very complex and I’ve simplified radically in this section of the thread.
Nonetheless, as a medieval ‘scribe’, she would not be sitting down to write in a massive, bound, decorated (we’ll get to that
) book.
Nonetheless, as a medieval ‘scribe’, she would not be sitting down to write in a massive, bound, decorated (we’ll get to that
) book.
