Golden Legend

Golden Legend (Lat. Aurea Legenda), a celebrated medieval collection of lives of the greater saints, which passed through more than a hundred editions, and was rendered from Latin into most of the western languages. It is the work of Jacobus de Voragine (1230-98), a Dominican, who was Archbishop of Genoa for his last six years, and wrote many works, among them the Chronicon Januense, a history of Genoa from mythical down to contemporary times. The Golden Legend has 182 chapters, and is divided into five sections, corresponding to as many divisions of the year. It contains many puerile legends and contemporary miracles vouchsafed especially to Dominicans. A translation was made by William Caxton, and published in 1483. A good edition is that by Grasse (Dresden, 1846).