The story of Judith is a central narrative theme in medieval literature. In Germany, attempts to compose written accounts of the story in the vernacular go back to the 12th century. This book examines the development of the biblical material in literature up to the upheavals of the 16th century, which led to the formation of the modern figure of Judith in the wake of the Reformation.

Henrike Lähnemann, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.