Medieval Romance 30 Years On

International conference makes return to Welsh capital

More than 65 academic experts from six countries head to Cardiff for the Biennial Medieval Insular Romance Conference this spring.

The conference will be held in the Welsh capital for the first time since the inception of the conference series in historic Gregynog Hall under the auspices of the University of Wales in 1988.

In the three decades since the inaugural meeting, the conference has taken place at various universities in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Canada, and it continues to be the international hub for the study of medieval romance literature written in any of the languages of Britain and Ireland.

Organiser and Senior Lecturer in English Literature Dr Megan Leitch said: “I am delighted that the romance conference is returning to its Welsh roots this year. We have an exciting programme of speakers, foregrounding new approaches to the study of medieval romance and also exploring local Welsh connections.”

Celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the inaugural meeting in Wales, the conference will feature a plenary address by Professor Helen Fulton (University of Bristol) entitled Romantic Wales: Imagining Wales in Medieval Insular Romance, to be presented on Monday 9th April at 4pm. A reception follows in the Viriamu Jones Gallery.

While space at the conference is limited to registered delegates, other staff and students of Cardiff University are very welcome to attend the plenary address.

Speakers at the three-day programme include six members of staff and four postgraduate research students from Cardiff University – a testament to Cardiff’s strengths in this field of research.

The 16th Biennial Medieval Insular Romance Conference takes place at the University’s Main Building over three days (9 – 11 April).