Leo Grech/Yehudah Mosconi Hebrew historiogarphy and collectionism in the fourteenth century

Abstract

Leo Grech/Yehudah Mosconi is famous for the sale of his library and for his Introduction to the medieval Hebrew chronicle known as Yosippon. The paper recreates his background in Mallorca in the second half of the fourteenth century. It argues that an examination of the Introduction he authored may help to understand the Jewish attitudes to -and perceptions of- history writing at the time. Similarly, his remarks on the acquisition of books differ from more conventional descriptions in terms of progeny. They provide evidence of the thought and ideals of collectionism of Hebrew books in medieval Spain.