ABSTRACT
In general terms a 'fragment' can mean a manuscript with less than half its leaves left or it can refer to detached leaves or pieces of parchment from a manuscript. The core idea behind the medieval book at hand is the conviction that the Nordic fragments are not only of local interest but also interesting from a wider European perspective and can contribute significantly to our understanding of European literacy and manuscript studies. The five Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – share the northernmost area of Europe and are closely linked in their languages, culture and history. A large number of Latin fragments were found in the bindings of Arni Magnusson's books, and are therefore equally as 'accidental' as the collections in the other Nordic countries. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
