How to Use Modern Critical Editions of Medieval Latin Texts

Critical editions provide access to the texts of the medieval and ancient world. To use these editions effectively, we must be aware of the theories, assumptions, and conventions that underlie them. This article examines how most critical editions of Medieval Latin texts are constructed and presented to the reader, and includes a model edition to serve as a concrete example. With a better understanding of modern critical editions, readers should be able to study how texts were read and used in the Middle Ages, and how they changed in the course of manuscript transmission. They should also be able to critically evaluate editorial choices and understand the reasoning behind them.