About the Text
Written in the twelfth century, the Liber Sancti Jacobi (Book of St. James) compiles information, advice, sermons, miracle stories, and more that would be of interest to a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago. It is divided into five parts:
- Book 1: The Sermons and Liturgy of Saint James: This lengthy book includes multiple sermons, accounts of the martyrdom of St. James, and liturgical texts.
- Book 2: The Miracles of St. James: This book contains accounts of miracles that were attributed to St. James. Many of these miracles concern pilgrims.
- Book 3: The Translatio of St. James: This relatively short book narrates the translation of St. James’ body from Jerusalem, where he died, to his final resting place in Galicia. It also mentions pilgrims collecting shells from the Galician coast.
- Book 4: The Chronicle of Pseudo-Turpin: Written by an unknown twelfth-century writer, this chronicle was attributed to Archbishop Turpin of Reims. It describes Charlemagne’s arrival in Spain, the death of Roland, and St. James’ appearance to Charlemagne in a dream.
- Book 5: Pilgrim’s Guide to Santiago de Compostela: Arguably one of the earliest tourist guides, this book tells pilgrims what to expect along the Camino, recommends places to visit, and warns against common problems.
The most famous manuscript containing the Liber Sancti Jacobi is the Codex Calixtinus.
English Translations of the Text
Gerson, Paula, Alison Stones, Jeanne Krochalis, and Annie Shaver-Crandell, ed. and trans. The Pilgrim’s Guide to Santiago de Compostela: A Critical Edition. 2 vols. London: Harvey Miller, 1998.
Italica Press’s Compostela Project, underway since 1993, has published English translations of Books 1-5. The sermon Veneranda Dies (which is in the first book of the Liber) has been translated and is included with the materials for Book 2.
There is also an English translation of Book 5 (“Pilgrim’s Guide”) available online.