Women Writers in Medieval England
Many today assume that women were uneducated and unlettered in the Middle Ages. An overview of just a few of the female writers from medieval England shows otherwise.
The Persian Art of Persuasion
How to convince a Prince? In this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast, Faraz Alidina talks to Lucie Laumonier about his work on Persian literature. Faraz researches more specifically the works of a poet named Attar, who lived in Iran in the late twelfth and early thirteenth century. Attar mastered the art of rhetoric and persuasion through the telling of fables, in the manner of the stories of the One Thousand and One Nights.
Song of the Banu Sasan: A Story of Outcasts from the 10th century
‘We do the damndest things to earn our bread’
The Distaff Gospels
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny about one of her favourite medieval books: The Distaff Gospels. Full to the brim with wit and wild advice for timeless problems, this is a book that reminds us of the full picture of life in the Middle Ages.
What Makes Bibliography Critical? A Medievalist’s Response
How does a Western medievalist breathe new life into bibliography, that bread-and-butter of their scholarly pursuits?
The Missing Hand
A tale from the 10th century of crime and passion.
The Oud: ‘Never short of melodious song’
Three poems from the 10th century celebrating a musical instrument.
10 Tips on Reading an Icelandic Saga
Here are some neat tips and tricks that will make your lives easier and your reading of sagas much more enjoyable.
‘It’s Set Your Eyes Aflame’: Two Poems from the 14th century
Two beautiful poems from the 14th century, one called ‘Love’s Cure’ and the other ‘My Religion—My Wine’
Paradise Bejewelled: The Gems of Dante’s Divine Comedy
Dante’s writings reveal some hidden talents, such as his in-depth knowledge of gems.
The Magical Kings of Medieval England
While magic and historical figures seem like polar opposites to many today, in the Middle Ages, they were frequently connected. Medieval historical records even contain several accounts of former kings who used magic in their reigns: one king magically constructed hot baths, while the other used magic to build a bridge over the English Channel.
Ghosts in Medieval Literature
Looking to get into the Halloween spirit? Check out a few of the ghosts that the medieval literary world has to offer.
Laughter, Satire and Medieval Parody
What made medieval people laugh? In. this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast, Lucie talks with Bryant White
Before Arthur and the Round Table: The Knights of Franc Palais
The Knights of Franc Palais have their roots in the fourteenth-century Le Roman de Perceforest, a massive prose romance that recounts the rise and fall of a legendary dynasty in pre-Arthurian Britain.
Medieval Storytime: Sir Orfeo
It’s medieval storytime! This week on The Medieval Podcast, a story from the ancient world is translated into the Middle Ages in the tale of Sir Orfeo.
Children’s Literature in the Middle Ages: What did medieval children read?
What did children in the Middle Ages read? Was there even such a thing as medieval children’s literature?
How to be a Rogue: a medieval guide
If you want to learn to be a Rogue, then you can find no better teacher than Abū Zayd al-Sarūjī.
The insomniac poets of medieval China
What to do on those nights where no matter how hard you try, you just can’t fall asleep? For the literati of pre-modern China there was at least one possible answer: write a poem about it.
Reynard the Fox with Anne Louise Avery
Among the most popular folk heroes of the Middle Ages is one who hails not from a traditional kingdom, but from the animal kingdom. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Anne Louise Avery about the charming, troubling, and evergreen trickster, Reynard the Fox.
What are Merlin’s Prophecies?
A look at Merlin and his prophecies, which anticipated many of the events that would happen over the course of England’s history.
Fiery Floripas: The Muslim Warrior Woman in Mediaeval French and English Literature
Eva Simmons discusses Muslim heroines in Medieval French and English Literature.
Byzantine poetry on its own terms, with Marc Lauxtermann
We talk about how modern Romantic notions of poetry as well as the ancient meters of classical Greek have distorted the expectations that we place on Byzantine poetry, and then discuss the specific contexts that gave rise to poetry in Byzantine society. Who were the poets? How did poems accompany objects and events?
Why I Wrote a Book of Cartoons about Medieval Baghdad
Can you keep a secret? I wrote a book of cartoons about Medieval Baghdad! And according to the 9th-century essaying al-Jahiz, the fastest way to spread news is to claim that it’s a secret!
Nine medieval poems
An uplifting episode of fun medieval poetry! This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle reads nine of her favorites poems, which tell of a student who wants to enjoy the day, a priest and a wolf, pet peeves about courtly love, a goliard’s feast, and more.