'Communicating in the Medieval Bed & Chamber' - December Reading Group Session

Our next session is approaching rapidly, given the Christmas break, so we look forward to seeing you all next Wednesday 10th December, 3-4pm, Trent A35, for Dr. Hollie Morgan’s session on ‘“Talking in Bed Ought to be Easiest”: Communicating in the Medieval Bed & Chamber’. Hollie will be presenting an introductory paper on the topic in the first half of the session, so even if you are not a medieval expert please do come along to learn more about this fascinating period of history!

Please see below and attached for the session readings:

• I'm looking at a few things in this session, but to start with I will be focusing on Havelok the Dane. If people are feeling adventurous, here is the Middle English text (it's not hard ME, so should be fairly comprehensible): http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/salisbury-four-romances-of-england-havelok-the-dane
• If people are less inclined to a bit of olde Englande, here is a passable translation: http://www.sfsu.edu/~medieval/romances/havelok_rev.html
• Finally, attached is a picture of pretty much the only surviving late medieval English bed, which will lead us nicely into a discussion about its iconography and what we know about it [NB: This image will be circulated to those on the mailing list ahead of the session].

As usual, all staff and PG students are welcome, so do come along, have a mince pie, and learn things you never knew about medieval beds!