In the summer of 2024, amidst the buzz of the Leeds International Medieval Congress, a chance meeting sparked what would become The Premodern Body Project. It was there that I had the pleasure of attending a talk by Autumn, a PhD candidate from the University of Alberta whose work on Early Modern ritual reform captivated me. Her discussion of gender, liturgy, and the intellectual lives of Early Modern women resonated deeply with my own research interests in the heroic Old Norse sagas. After her talk, we struck up a conversation that quickly spiraled into an animated exchange of ideas, challenges, and ambitions.
By the end of that week, we knew we wanted to collaborate. Both of us felt the pull to create something bigger—something that would not only bring together our respective specialisms but also foster a broader dialogue about the pre-modern body. We brainstormed over coffee, piecing together an idea for a round table discussion at the next Leeds conference. But as we began to imagine what this could look like, we realized we needed one more voice to complete our vision.
That’s where James entered the picture. Autumn introduced him to me shortly after Leeds, and it was immediately clear that his expertise in gender and the body in late medieval religion would bring a rich, complementary perspective to our project. A seasoned lecturer with a PhD from the University of Alberta and a deep commitment to fostering academic communities, James was just as passionate about creating a space for dynamic, interdisciplinary exploration.
From those early conversations, The Premodern Body Project was born. We wanted to create a consortium where scholars could connect, share their work, and collaborate without feeling constrained by the hierarchical and often daunting structures of academia. At a time when the humanities face increasing precarity, we believe in making our own opportunities and carving out spaces to thrive.
Our research collective celebrates the diversity and complexity of the pre-modern body—from the legendary dragons and liminal beings of Old Norse sagas to the ritualized transformations of Early Modern England, and the spiritual and corporeal lives of medieval women in the Low Countries and Italy. Together, we hope to not only advance scholarship in these areas but also inspire others—whether established academics or those just beginning their journeys—to explore the past with fresh curiosity.
The Premodern Body Project is as much about research as it is about community. We’re here to connect with scholars across disciplines, share ideas, and host events that bring pre-modern studies to life. If you’re interested in our work, or simply curious to learn more, we’d love to hear from you.
Join us on this journey as we uncover the many fascinating layers of what it meant to be a body in the pre-modern world.
Bodies and Being 