Description
The Newberry Library holds one of the earliest manuscripts of the Old French Prose Lancelot, unknown to European scholars when key studies and editions were produced in the twentieth century. While recent scholarship has described the manuscript’s material features, its textual value remains unexamined. Assessing it could yield new insights into one of the central narratives of the Western Middle Ages. This talk presents the ‘Chicago Lancelot’ in the broader context of Arthurian literature.
About the Speaker
Claudio Lagomarsini is Associate Professor of Romance Philology at the University of Siena (Italy). He has published several scholarly editions of medieval French and Italian texts and authored numerous articles on twelfth- and thirteenth-century European literature. His latest book, Come scoprire il Graal (Einaudi, 2025), explores the interplay of fact and legend surrounding a number of alleged discoveries of the Holy Grail from the Middle Ages to the present day.
About Colloquium
Colloquium is a weekly series of talks featuring staff, fellows, and scholars who are working with the library’s vast collections. These events bring together experts from various fields to share their research on a wide range of topics, followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and engage in conversation.
Colloquium is open to the public and offers a chance to explore fascinating ideas and new discoveries. No advance registration is required.