The Medieval Chronicle‌‌

Seventh International Conference on the Medieval Chronicle: Call for Papers

Papers in English, French or German are invited on any aspect of Medieval Chronicle. Papers will be allocated to sections to give coherence and contrast; authors should identify the main theme to which their paper relates. The main themes of the conference are listed below:

1. Chronicle: history or literature?

  • The chronicle as a historiographical and/or literary genre;
  • genre identification;
  • genre confusion and genre influence;
  • typologies of chronicle;
  • classification;
  • conventions (historiographical, literary or otherwise) and topoi.

2. The function of the chronicle

  • The function of chronicles in society;
  • contexts historical;
  • literary and social;
  • patronage;
  • reception of the text(s);
  • literacy;
  • orality;
  • performance.

3. The form of the chronicle

  • The language(s) of the chronicle;
  • inter-relationships of chronicles in multiple languages;
  • prose and/or verse chronicles;
  • manuscript traditions and dissemination;
  • the arrangement of the text.

4. The chronicle and the representation of the past

  • How chronicles record the past;
  • the relationship with ‘time’;
  • how the reality of the past is encapsulated in the literary form of the chronicle;
  • how chronicles explain the past;
  • motivations given to historical actors;
  • the role of the Divine.

5. Art and Text in the chronicle

  • How art functions in manuscripts of chronicles;
  • do manuscript illuminations illustrate the texts or do they provide a different discourse that amplifies, re-enforces or contradicts the verbal text;
  • origin and production of illuminations;
  • relationships between author(s), scribe(s) and illuminator(s).

Papers read at the conference will be strictly limited to twenty (20) minutes in length.

The deadline for abstracts is Saturday, 1 February 2014 (maximum length one (1) side A4 paper, including bibliography). Please email your abstract to medchron@liverpool.ac.uk.

Leeds International Medieval Congress

We are more than happy to welcome any delegates wishing to combine attendance at our conference with a visit to Leeds International Medieval Congress, which also takes place between 7 and 10 July 2014. Leeds is approximately two hours from Liverpool by train.

Please notify us of your intention to attend both conferences when you submit your abstract and we will work with you to avoid a programming clash.