Europe After Wyclif – Call For Papers

Europe After Wyclif
Fordham University, New York
4-6 June, 2014

Discussions of religious controversy in late-medieval England have increasingly adopted a continental scope. We have begun to see how communication networks, both licit and illicit, connected England with sometimes unexpected parts of Europe; how the Wycliffites influenced, and were influenced by, continental writings; how English religious affairs drew the attention of continental observers; and how debate over Wyclif’s doctrines featured prominently at the 15th-century general councils. Seen from an even broader perspective, late-medieval English religious politics was both integrated with and stood in tense relation to that of continental Europe (as had long been the case). In other words, England was never as insular as some have thought it to be.

This conference aims to explore intersections—the points at which Wycliffism and English religious controversy meet with broader social, cultural, historical, literary, and material issues of European significance. One purpose of this gathering is to examine the place of L/lollard studies in terms of wider concerns in Europe, though not all papers are expected to address L/lollardy or Wycliffism directly.

This meeting will also provide a forum for re-examining the mission of the Lollard Society, its current emphases and future directions.

Plenary Speakers:
Vincent Gillespie (Oxford), Fiona Somerset (Univ. of Connecticut), John Van Engen (Notre Dame)

The organizers welcome submissions on the following topics, as well as others that may be proposed:

  • The Great Schism of the Western Church (incl. the events that preceded and followed)
  • 15th-century general councils
  • Manuscript culture, textual transmission, communication networks
  • Lay devotion
  • Religious movements on the European Continent
  • Preaching

Abstracts of approx. 150 words should be sent by e-mail to Michael Van Dussen (michael.vandussen@mcgill.ca) no later than 15 March 2013.

Conference Organizers:
J. Patrick Hornbeck II (Fordham University)
hornbeck@fordham.edu

Michael Van Dussen (McGill University)
michael.vandussen@mcgill.ca