Medievalista 34 - Dossier "Medieval Chronicles"

Abstract

Interest in medieval historiography has boomed in the last thirty years, in no small part because of the realization that genres previously regarded as straight forward historical sources were also goldmines for literary and cultural studies. A plethora of important comprehensive publications and major research projects have focussed on what annalists and chroniclers reveal about their own agendas, worldviews, preferences, and blind spots. Many gems of medieval historical writing have appeared in new editions or translations . Art historians have made great strides in elucidating the relationship between text, layout, and images. This interdisciplinary interest is exemplified in the establishment of the Medieval Chronicle Society, which has held regular conferences since 19965. The present volume represents a sampling of current research on the topic, including works from Portugal, Spain, France, England and Hungary in the high and late Middle Ages. Most of the contributions focus on one particular work, but the cross-sectional nature of the historiography of the period means that each has a broader relevance.