The Lausiac History of Palladius

The church historian and Benedictine monk Cuthbert Butler (1858-1934) was known for his expertise on the monastic life and wrote several books on the subject, including Benedictine Monachism (1919) and Western Mysticism (1922). Previously he had produced this two-volume edition of Palladius of Galatia’s Lausiac History. Written in the early fifth century, it records the lives of the Egyptian ‘Desert Fathers’ and is an important source for early monasticism. Volume 2 (1904) contains Butler’s edition of the Greek text, supported by an extensive critical apparatus. Butler’s substantial introduction first surveys the various Greek manuscripts and earlier editions of the text, before outlining the method he adopted in editing the work. His text is supported by detailed critical and historical notes. The volume also includes a reassessment of the chronology of Palladius’ life and helpful supporting material in the form of a map and chronological table.