NECKAM (Nequam), ALESSANDRO. – Polygraph and educationalist, born at St. Albans (England) in 1157, died at Kempsey (Worcestershire) in 1217. He was educated at St. Albans, then became headmaster of the school at Dunstable. Before 1180 N. went to Paris, where he devoted himself also to the study of medicine and the natural sciences; he also taught the liberal arts. Returning to his homeland in 1186, he resumed direction of the school at Dunstable, then became a canon regular at Cirencester, where he was elected abbot in 1213.
A man of broad learning, a poet and prolific writer, as an “encyclopedist” N. stands between Isidore and Albertus Magnus. In terms of literary genre, his works occupy an eminent place in didactic poetry. Broad-minded, he applied himself to the study of the ancient classics. An outstanding grammarian, he also knew Hebrew, and the beginnings of textual criticism are found in his biblical exegesis. His study of nature presents immediate and valuable observations; N. is the first European author to mention the compass. His works are therefore a source of great value for the history of culture.
Many writings, especially theological ones, are still unpublished. Among his biblical commentaries, the following should be mentioned: Expositio in Cantica canticorum; Glossa super psalterium; Tractatus super parabolas Salomonis; Moralia super Evangelia lib. IV. He left other treatises, commentaries and sermons, poems and fables.