I’ve mentioned that I’m a graduate student, so I probably ought to tell you a bit more about my research.
I’m working on a PhD in medieval history at Fordham University in New York City, although I’m done with my coursework so I live in Seattle. My primary areas of research are British history, the fourteenth century, medieval manuscripts, social history, women and family, and lay spirituality.
I’m writing my dissertation now, a seemly endless process. It’s entitled “The Manuscript Context of Medieval Welsh Prophecies.” Welsh literature is full of prophecies, usually political, which predict that a hero like King Arthur will come and unite the Welsh against the English, kick the English out of the British Isles, and take over Britain. I’m examining the manuscripts in which these prophecies were written, trying to get an idea of why people wrote them down, what they found interesting in them, and what they thought about them. Welsh history is challenging because we really don’t have many sources, so you have to make really creative use of sources. There are 19 manuscripts written in Wales between 1200 and 1500 that contain prophecies, so I’m looking at the texts alongside the prophecies, any markings in the margins, and that sort of thing. A lot of the prophecies aren’t available in modern editions, so I’m also transcribing them – it means I spend a lot of time staring at my microfilm machine.
In a later post, I’ll put up some images of the manuscripts I’m working with. If you have any questions about the Middle Ages, don’t hesitate to ask me!
