@jamespaz.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Early Medieval English Literature at the University of Manchester (https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/james.paz).
Interested in connections between #history & #CreativeWriting / #poetry? @ihr.bsky.social is seeking a Creative Practitioner in Residence for 2026. Β£1000 monthly stipend, opportunities for collaboration & developing projects. Happy to have a chat! Please share:
www.history.ac.uk/fellowships-...
Medieval manuscript image of a colourful two winged, two-legged dragon with a hairy face and a long tongue standing atop a mound of earth.
hord-weard, m.n: hoard-guardian, guardian of treasure. (HORD-WEH-ard / ΛhΙrd-ΛwΙard)
Image: Bestiary; France (possibly ThΓ©rouanne), 13th century; @gettymuseum.bsky.social Ms. Ludwig XV 3, f. 89r.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Sharing a couple of draft translations I've been working on, a diptych of poems: 'Words Written on Wood | Words Written on Stone (after folios 123r-124v of the Exeter Book)' #medievalsky
www.academia.edu/145354662/Wo...
Fascinating Beowulf-objects reading (with particular relevance for first-gen class-steppers)
#medievalsky
βIn Old English usage, the term crΓ¦ft conveys a sense of mental ability as much as physical skill. Definitions also slide between craft as talent, or even virtue, and craft as cunning.β
Beowulf as Wayland's Work, for working-class medievalists: www.manchesterhive.com/display/9781...
09.12.2025 18:54 β π 8 π 5 π¬ 0 π 1It was great to write this blog post for the @guildmedmak.bsky.social and to give readers a little glimpse into my creative-critical practice, as my 'ecocreative' translations turn from storms π§ and ice β to heat and fire π₯ via the OE poem on The Phoenix #medievalsky.
27.10.2025 12:24 β π 24 π 11 π¬ 1 π 0
The summer seems a long way away now, but very much looking forward to presenting a creative-critical paper titled 'The Phoenix Speaks: An Eco-Creative Response to an Old English Allegory' at the Leeds IMC (@imc-leeds.bsky.social) next year #IMC2026
28.11.2025 16:22 β π 21 π 3 π¬ 0 π 0
Delighted to see that my creative-critical Old English eco-poetics article is now out, Open Access, in Postmedieval (thanks to @postmedieval.bsky.social): link.springer.com/article/10.1... #medievalsky #oldenglish
15.05.2025 07:33 β π 48 π 21 π¬ 4 π 4
New post:
Between Philology and Desire, Part 1
I discuss translation and the study of English literary history. This series is based on a lecture series I gave to undergrads at Oxford in 2020/21.
open.substack.com/pub/nikolasg...
I think this sounds fab, Laura. And I really like this way of framing the special issue. Creative practice as a core mode of, rather than supplement to, scholarly inquiry:
05.12.2025 10:28 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Members of @guildmedmak.bsky.social should check out the cfp for CREATING THE MEDIEVAL NOW, a special issue of the journal 'Public Humanities', co-edited by yours truly & Eleanor Barraclough (with amazing artwork by our very own @hellomizk.bsky.social)
05.12.2025 10:01 β π 7 π 5 π¬ 1 π 0
Attention creative medievalists! Eleanor Barraclough & I are co-editing a special issue of Public Humanities entitled CREATING THE MEDIEVAL NOW! See the cfp for details: essays of 2,000-3,000 words due 1 May 2026. (Amazing artwork by @hellomizk.bsky.social). 1/ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
05.12.2025 09:35 β π 52 π 56 π¬ 3 π 4This is going to be a fantastic book, especially for those interested in biblical #apocrypha!
03.12.2025 17:19 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
π’ #CfP #medievalsky #TOEBI
πTheme: All Kinds of People
π
Date: Saturday, 24th October 2026
π«Host: University of Nottingham
β°Submission deadline: 30 March 2026
πTOEBI is a supportive and collegial conference open to anyone involved in the teaching of Old English at any level.
Great to see this guild flourishing!
01.12.2025 19:09 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0After only eight months of existence, we are delighted to announce that the Guild of Medievalist Makers has gained its β¨100th Guild Memberβ¨!
We have lots of exciting plans for the development of the Guild, but in the meantime, why not join us for tomorrow's Making Space session?π»
The summer seems a long way away now, but very much looking forward to presenting a creative-critical paper titled 'The Phoenix Speaks: An Eco-Creative Response to an Old English Allegory' at the Leeds IMC (@imc-leeds.bsky.social) next year #IMC2026
28.11.2025 16:22 β π 21 π 3 π¬ 0 π 0
π£ #medievalsky #openaccess #article #OldEnglish
πStorm-thoughts and ice-songs: A creative-critical response to Old English eco-poetry
βοΈ @jamespaz.bsky.social
π»Postmedieval: a journal of medieval cultural studies @postmedieval.bsky.social
π² link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Medieval manuscript image of an eagle-like bird that looks a bit surprised that it is breathing fire.
on-Δl, n.n: a burning, kindling; also what is burnt. (ON-all / ΛΙn-aΛl)
Image: New College Psalter, William de Brailes; England, early 13th century; Oxford, New College Library, MS 322, f. 118v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Can't wait to read this!
21.10.2025 12:13 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 1 π 0
Not sure what to do on a particularly rainy Friday in Bristol? βοΈ Weβve got you covered! Old English Reading Group runs at 3pm in Hattieβs office, no experience or prep required! Email harriet.soper@bristol.ac.uk for more info! βΊοΈ
*Old Norse isn't running today but will be back next week!*
Teaching Simon Armitage's translation of Gawain today (having done five weeks on Heaney's Beowulf) and very much looking forward to Simon himself speaking about said translation at UoM next week. What a rare treat for a medievalist: a real, living poet whose work you've been studying and teaching!
14.11.2025 10:42 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
#medievalsky
@cema-su.bsky.social is organizing a 'Beowulf & circulations' conference in Paris on March 13-14, 2026.
Come enjoy a public reading of the poem, and two great keynotes!
CFP & free (but compulsory) registration via the CEMA's new website:
cemasorbonne.org
As the weather gets colder, warm the cockles of your creative-critical heart by reading our new Meet a Medievalist Maker blog post by @jamespaz.bsky.social, which is filled with fiery reflections on his 'ecocreative' processπ₯
Read more by following the link belowπ
Aberystwyth has joined a global network of 350 Creative Cities that have been recognised for their excellence in creative fields across the world by becoming Walesβ first UNESCO City of Literature
31.10.2025 11:59 β π 73 π 22 π¬ 1 π 3Thanks for the invite! The TOEBI paper went well (I think) with some good questions and feedback - and Dublin was great.
28.10.2025 11:06 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0It was great to write this blog post for the @guildmedmak.bsky.social and to give readers a little glimpse into my creative-critical practice, as my 'ecocreative' translations turn from storms π§ and ice β to heat and fire π₯ via the OE poem on The Phoenix #medievalsky.
27.10.2025 12:24 β π 24 π 11 π¬ 1 π 0
π£Looking forward to welcoming you to #TEI2025 tomorrow #medievalsky!
π
Saturday, 25 October 2025
β°Registration opens at 9am
πTheme: Education and Early Medieval England
π«Room C218 (2nd floor), Newman Arts building (next to the James Joyce Library), University College Dublin @ucddublin.bsky.social
Looking forward to attending TOEBI in Dublin this weekend and speaking about my creative-critical work!
23.10.2025 10:42 β π 6 π 3 π¬ 0 π 0Can't wait to read this!
21.10.2025 12:13 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 1 π 0
