[Next Project] Baarlam and Ioasaph (trans. G. R. Woodward and H. Mattingly)
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Weijia Cheng
Dec 16, 2025, 8:52:10 PM12/16/25
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For my next project, I would like to work on Barlaam and Ioasaph. It is a hagiographic novel that was popular in medieval Europe. The most interesting thing about this novel is that it is very distantly based on the story of the Buddha, which was reinterpreted and retranslated several times until it became a Christian hagiography (with the result that Barlaam and Ioasaph became venerated as actual saints).
The author of this book is unknown. The text has a reference to "John the Monk" which later got interpreted as John of Damascus, but that was probably a spurious attribution.
Alex Cabal
Dec 17, 2025, 11:51:39 AM12/17/25
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OK! Please send a link to your repo. You can just list the author as
anonymous like our other anonymous books.
On 12/16/25 7:52 PM, 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> PG: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749
> HT: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009011452
>
> For my next project, I would like to work on /Barlaam and Ioasaph/. It
> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Damascus>, but that was probably a
> spurious attribution.
>
> --
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> b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
anonymous like our other anonymous books.
On 12/16/25 7:52 PM, 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> PG: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749
> HT: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009011452
>
> is a hagiographic novel that was popular in medieval Europe. The most
> interesting thing about this novel is that it is very distantly based on
> the story of the Buddha, which was reinterpreted and retranslated
> several times until it became a Christian hagiography (with the result
> that Barlaam and Ioasaph became venerated as actual saints).
>
> The author of this book is unknown. The text has a reference to "John
> the Monk" which later got interpreted as John of Damascus <https://
> interesting thing about this novel is that it is very distantly based on
> the story of the Buddha, which was reinterpreted and retranslated
> several times until it became a Christian hagiography (with the result
> that Barlaam and Ioasaph became venerated as actual saints).
>
> The author of this book is unknown. The text has a reference to "John
> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Damascus>, but that was probably a
> spurious attribution.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
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> an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6-b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6-
> b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
Weijia Cheng
Dec 17, 2025, 1:44:39 PM12/17/25
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Alex Cabal
Dec 17, 2025, 1:45:56 PM12/17/25
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OK, Emma will manage with Lukas reviewing.
On 12/17/25 12:44 PM, 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> Repo: https://github.com/weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-
> ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-woodward_harold-mattingly
> www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749>
> > HT: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009011452 <https://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009011452>
> > standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6-
> b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6- <https://groups.google.com/d/
> msgid/standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6->
> > b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <http://40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/
> c0900848-63f4-4274-9623-52c12e42dbbfn%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
On 12/17/25 12:44 PM, 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> Repo: https://github.com/weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-
> ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-woodward_harold-mattingly
>
> On Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 11:51:39 AM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> OK! Please send a link to your repo. You can just list the author as
> anonymous like our other anonymous books.
>
> On 12/16/25 7:52 PM, 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> > PG: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749 <https://
> On Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 11:51:39 AM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> OK! Please send a link to your repo. You can just list the author as
> anonymous like our other anonymous books.
>
> On 12/16/25 7:52 PM, 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749>
> > HT: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009011452 <https://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009011452>
> >
> > For my next project, I would like to work on /Barlaam and
> Ioasaph/. It
> > is a hagiographic novel that was popular in medieval Europe. The
> most
> > interesting thing about this novel is that it is very distantly
> based on
> > the story of the Buddha, which was reinterpreted and retranslated
> > several times until it became a Christian hagiography (with the
> result
> > that Barlaam and Ioasaph became venerated as actual saints).
> >
> > The author of this book is unknown. The text has a reference to
> "John
> > the Monk" which later got interpreted as John of Damascus <https://
> > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Damascus <http://en.wikipedia.org/
> > For my next project, I would like to work on /Barlaam and
> Ioasaph/. It
> > is a hagiographic novel that was popular in medieval Europe. The
> most
> > interesting thing about this novel is that it is very distantly
> based on
> > the story of the Buddha, which was reinterpreted and retranslated
> > several times until it became a Christian hagiography (with the
> result
> > that Barlaam and Ioasaph became venerated as actual saints).
> >
> > The author of this book is unknown. The text has a reference to
> "John
> > the Monk" which later got interpreted as John of Damascus <https://
> wiki/John_of_Damascus>>, but that was probably a
> > spurious attribution.
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> > Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
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> send
> > an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> > spurious attribution.
> >
> > --
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> send
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> > standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6-
> b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
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> msgid/standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6->
> > b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <http://40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.
>
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> c0900848-63f4-4274-9623-52c12e42dbbfn%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
Weijia Cheng
Dec 18, 2025, 2:00:18 PM12/18/25
to Standard Ebooks
The scans have a preface, bibliography, and a biography of St. John of Damascus that were not transcribed in PG. I will transcribe the preface (it has some interesting context) but not the bibliography or biography since they are not directly relevant to the text.
Emma Sweeney
Dec 18, 2025, 8:41:07 PM12/18/25
to Standard Ebooks
Sounds good.
Emma
Weijia Cheng
Jan 16, 2026, 10:01:21 AMJan 16
to Standard Ebooks
For the cover art, I would like to use this painting of St. Anthony. Monks (including Barlaam, one of the protagonists) are very prominent in the narrative and the early Renaissance style fits with the time period when this book was popular.
Emma Sweeney
Jan 17, 2026, 12:24:43 AMJan 17
to Standard Ebooks
Looks good! I've added it to the art DB.
Emma
Weijia Cheng
Feb 9, 2026, 8:44:00 PMFeb 9
to Standard Ebooks
Ok, this is ready for review: https://github.com/weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-woodward_harold-mattingly
Weijia Cheng
Feb 12, 2026, 2:35:50 PMFeb 12
to Standard Ebooks
Lukas, I just wanted to flag this for your review in case this got lost. I probably can't address any review comments until Sunday anyways, so no rush.
Lukas Bystricky
Feb 12, 2026, 2:54:02 PMFeb 12
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Ah thanks for the reminder. I'll get to that this weekend.
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Lukas Bystricky
Feb 14, 2026, 3:10:19 AMFeb 14
to Standard Ebooks
Good work as always Weijia. A couple small things to look at. I wasn't able to access the scans you linked to, even with a VPN, but I trust you didn't miss anything big.
Weijia Cheng
Feb 14, 2026, 7:00:15 PMFeb 14
to Standard Ebooks
Thanks! Two of the issues you flagged were intended, but I fixed the others.
Lukas Bystricky
Feb 15, 2026, 1:20:42 AMFeb 15
to Standard Ebooks
Ok, looks good to me Weijia. Off to you Alex.
Alex Cabal
Feb 17, 2026, 5:03:44 PMFeb 17
to standar...@googlegroups.com
OK, looks good Weijia, thanks! Great work as always. I've released it.
On 2/15/26 1:20 AM, Lukas Bystricky wrote:
> Ok, looks good to me Weijia. Off to you Alex.
>
> On Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 1:00:15 AM UTC+1 weij...@bu.edu wrote:
>
> Thanks! Two of the issues you flagged were intended, but I fixed the
> others.
>
> On Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 3:10:19 AM UTC-5
> lukasby...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Good work as always Weijia. A couple small things to look at. I
> wasn't able to access the scans you linked to, even with a VPN,
> but I trust you didn't miss anything big.
>
> On Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 8:54:02 PM UTC+1 Lukas
> Bystricky wrote:
>
> Ah thanks for the reminder. I'll get to that this weekend.
>
> On Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 20:35 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard
> Ebooks <standar...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> Lukas, I just wanted to flag this for your review in
> case this got lost. I probably can't address any review
> comments until Sunday anyways, so no rush.
>
> On Monday, February 9, 2026 at 8:44:00 PM UTC-5 Weijia
> Cheng wrote:
>
> Ok, this is ready for review: https://github.com/
> weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-ioasaph_george-
> ratcliffe-woodward_harold-mattingly <https://
> github.com/weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-
> ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-woodward_harold-mattingly>
> www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/
> search/458967>. Monks (including Barlaam,
> and- <https://github.com/weijia-
> cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and->
> > ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-
> > www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749
> <http://www.gutenberg.org/
> ebooks/749>>
> > > HT: https://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/
> Record/009011452 <https://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/
> Record/009011452> <https://
> > catalog.hathitrust.org/
> Record/009011452 <http://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/
> John_of_Damascus> <http://
> en.wikipedia.org/ <http://
> en.wikipedia.org/>
> msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>>
> > >
> standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6-
> >
> b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com> <http://40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>>
> > > <https://groups.google.com/
> d/msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> >
> standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6- <https://groups.google.com/d/ <https://groups.google.com/d/>
> > msgid/
> standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6->
> > >
> b43d-9400a5490d36n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>?
> >
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <http://40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>?
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> > standardebooks/
> c0900848-63f4-4274-9623-52c12e42dbbfn%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/
> msgid/standardebooks/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/>
> >
> c0900848-63f4-4274-9623-52c12e42dbbfn%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>?
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/a81b9f3d-
> eb6c-47cd-af25-34024175117an%40googlegroups.com?
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/c5314cde-
> a5e5-4f62-87fc-eb4de7bc4b3bn%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
On 2/15/26 1:20 AM, Lukas Bystricky wrote:
> Ok, looks good to me Weijia. Off to you Alex.
>
> On Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 1:00:15 AM UTC+1 weij...@bu.edu wrote:
>
> Thanks! Two of the issues you flagged were intended, but I fixed the
> others.
>
> On Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 3:10:19 AM UTC-5
> lukasby...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Good work as always Weijia. A couple small things to look at. I
> wasn't able to access the scans you linked to, even with a VPN,
> but I trust you didn't miss anything big.
>
> On Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 8:54:02 PM UTC+1 Lukas
> Bystricky wrote:
>
> Ah thanks for the reminder. I'll get to that this weekend.
>
> On Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 20:35 'Weijia Cheng' via Standard
> Ebooks <standar...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> Lukas, I just wanted to flag this for your review in
> case this got lost. I probably can't address any review
> comments until Sunday anyways, so no rush.
>
> On Monday, February 9, 2026 at 8:44:00 PM UTC-5 Weijia
> Cheng wrote:
>
> Ok, this is ready for review: https://github.com/
> weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-ioasaph_george-
> github.com/weijia-cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and-
> ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-woodward_harold-mattingly>
>
> On Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 12:24:43 AM UTC-5
> Emma Sweeney wrote:
>
> Looks good! I've added it to the art DB.
>
> Emma
> On Friday, January 16, 2026 at 10:01:21 AM UTC-5
> weij...@bu.edu wrote:
>
> For the cover art, I would like to use this
> painting of St. Anthony <https://
> On Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 12:24:43 AM UTC-5
> Emma Sweeney wrote:
>
> Looks good! I've added it to the art DB.
>
> Emma
> On Friday, January 16, 2026 at 10:01:21 AM UTC-5
> weij...@bu.edu wrote:
>
> For the cover art, I would like to use this
> www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/
> search/458967>. Monks (including Barlaam,
> cheng/anonymous_barlaam-and->
> > ioasaph_george-ratcliffe-
> woodward_harold-mattingly
> >
> > On Wednesday, December 17,
> 2025 at 11:51:39 AM UTC-5 Alex
> Cabal wrote:
> >
> > OK! Please send a link to
> your repo. You can just list the
> author as
> > anonymous like our other
> anonymous books.
> >
> > On 12/16/25 7:52 PM, 'Weijia
> Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> > > PG: https://
> www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/
> ebooks/749> <https://
> >
> > On Wednesday, December 17,
> 2025 at 11:51:39 AM UTC-5 Alex
> Cabal wrote:
> >
> > OK! Please send a link to
> your repo. You can just list the
> author as
> > anonymous like our other
> anonymous books.
> >
> > On 12/16/25 7:52 PM, 'Weijia
> Cheng' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> > > PG: https://
> www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/
> > www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/749
> <http://www.gutenberg.org/
> ebooks/749>>
> > > HT: https://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/
> Record/009011452 <https://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/
> Record/009011452> <https://
> > catalog.hathitrust.org/
> Record/009011452 <http://
> catalog.hathitrust.org/
> en.wikipedia.org/ <http://
> en.wikipedia.org/>
> > wiki/John_of_Damascus>>, but
> that was probably a
> > > spurious attribution.
> > >
> > > --
> > > You received this message
> because you are subscribed to
> the Google
> > > Groups "Standard Ebooks"
> group.
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> from it,
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> standardebook...@googlegroups.com
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> visit https://groups.google.com/
> d/msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/
> that was probably a
> > > spurious attribution.
> > >
> > > --
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> msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>>
> > >
> standardebooks/325cc07a-4f97-41b6-
> >
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