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by NoZebra120vClip 1051 days ago
> unlike most people, you can read

> another long day

> bitterly cold scriptorium

> city of fleas

> parchment, which stinks

> candle, which stinks

Author managed to disparage literacy rates (literacy was mostly unnecessary in the 9th c.), monks' work ethic, their resilience to a cooler climate, their closeness to animals, and their good stewardship of animal products. Author paints a fake word-picture of disgusting and wretched conditions that can be blamed on the monks themselves, or the patriarchy or something. I can't think of any way this single paragraph could be more disparaging of the whole scenario.