The book decoration that was practised in England during the two centuries between the reigns of Alfred the Great and William Rufus ranges from isolated decorated initials in modestly conceived volumes to elaborate full page miniatures in luxurious ones. This chapter outlines the main chronological development of this artform, and examines aspects of its patronage, production and purpose. Crude pen-drawn letters and their descendants composed of whole or part animals and birds, interwoven with sprigs of foliage were the dominant form of book decoration during the first half of the tenth century. The number of English centres that were producing fine decorated books seems to have expanded slightly in the early eleventh century. The three gospel-books of Judith of Flanders's were decorated by English illuminators seem to have been designed to look as different as was possible within the canons of late Anglo-Saxon manuscript art. In service-books, the decorations inspired man and sometimes arguably also glorified man.