Let the Games Begin: The Medieval World at Play

Call for Papers

Let the Games Begin: The Medieval World at Play

Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield

We invite postgraduate students and early career researchers working in any field of Medieval Studies to submit abstracts for an interdisciplinary conference at the University of Sheffield, organised by medievalists in the Department of French, hosted by the Humanities Research Institute, and subsidised by the Society for French Studies.

We welcome papers that approach issues concerning games and sports in medieval culture.

Suitable topics may include, but are not limited to:

Children's games / play / toys

Courtly games

Chess / card / board games

Drinking games

Love games

Competitions Jousts / Tournaments / War games

Fairs

Hunting / Hawking

Sports: archery, hammer-throwing, quarter-staff contests, stoolball, hurling, gameball, wrestling etc

Please send proposals of no more than 250 words for a twenty minute paper in English with your name, institution and contact details either by e-mail to gameplayconference@shef.ac.uk or by post to the address by 12 April 2010.

As in previous years, a selection of papers is likely to be published in an edited collection.

Medieval Studies Conference

c/o Dr Katariina Nara

SOMLAL

University of Sheffield

Jessop West

1 Upper Hanover Street

Sheffield S3 7RA

U.K.

For further information, please contact the organisers:

Lorna Bleach, Keira Borrill, Katariina Närä, at the e-mail address above.