Leeds Is Coming Up

For those not on the scholarly side of medievalism, there are two Big Shows of academic medieval studies. On this side of the Atlantic is the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo, Michigan.

On the other side of the Atlantic is the other essential conference, the International Medieval Congress* at Leeds. I never get to go to Leeds myself, since I can usually only afford a conference abroad once every couple of years, and then I go to the Medieval and Early Modern English Studies Association Conference in Korea to help support medievalism in Asia. I love MEMESAK, and it's certainly grown into the center of Asian medievalism, but it's a far cry from the importance of Kalamazoo & Leeds -- but maybe someday.

The Leeds Congress is coming up here next month, July 13th-16th. It features over a thousand papers on a variety of subjects and has a thematic focus. This year, the overall theme will be heresy & orthodoxy, so medieval scholars particularly interested in religion will be making the pilgrimage there.

So, if you're thinking of going, time's drawing near! Also, if you'd like to give a paper, there are actually a few slots for sessions that need a third paper, which you can find at the Late Speakers Calls page.

Me, I won't be able to make it, which is a shame -- I really want to hear Alaric Hall's paper on the early 20th-century reception of the Anglo-Saxon charms.



*The two names are so similar, it reminds me of a bit from the Life of Brian about the People's Front of Judea vs. the Judean People's Front.