Middle Ages
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Great Stenches, Horrible Sights, and Deadly Abominations: the Stenton Lecture and Symposium 2024
The Stenton Lecture is an annual lecture by an eminent historian, hosted by the Deparment of History, named in honour of our founders, Sir Frank and Lady Doris Stenton. Here, two of our PhD students, Stephen Evans and Caroline Johnson,… Continue reading
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Reading Welcomes the Summer (in the manner of c. 1218!)
by Prof Anne Lawrence The manuscript in this image (below), now British Library Ms. Harley 978, was once owned by Reading Abbey, and contains an eclectic mixture of texts, including the poems of a twelfth-century author and performer now known… Continue reading
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The Long Read: Saint Guinefort the Holy Greyhound
by Dr Rebecca Rist In April 1988 the New York Times published a review of Suzanne Schiffman and Paméla Berger’s film Sorceress (French version Le Moine et la Sorcière), which debuted at the 68th Street Playhouse. It described it as… Continue reading
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19th December 1154: Henry II and the Hand of St James
by Dr Ruth Salter 836 years ago, on a day much like this (possibly), Henry II was crowned at Westminster Abbey. His predecessor (and uncle), Stephen, had died just under two months earlier, much of his reign having been taken… Continue reading
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The Long Read. Impressions of a Modern Pilgrim: Walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela
by Dr Rebecca Rist Whan that Averylle with his shoures soote The droughte of March hath perced to the roote, … Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrymages When in April the sweet showers fall, And pierce the drought of… Continue reading
READING HISTORY 