"The bestiary - a book of animals, both real and mythical - is among the most appealing of medieval artefacts." "The 'Second-family' bestiary is the pre-eminent Latin version, and in its period the most frequently produced, known today in forty-nine manuscripts. Of English origin and mainly English production, it consists of a spiritual text 'modernized' to meet the needs of its early and middle Gothic period. The majority of manuscripts are illustrated, in some cases by artists of the first rank." "This study addresses the work's purpose and audience, challenging previous assumptions with direct evidence in the manuscripts themselves, linking their use principally to teachers at the elementary-school level, and exploring the artistic, textual, and cultural contexts for such use." "The study includes a critical edition and new English translation, and a catalogue raisonne of the manuscripts."--Jacket.