Blog post by Casey Harris, MA candidate, University of Villanova, USA, first resident short-term fellow of the Centre for Arthurian Studies, July 2017

The month I spent as a visiting research scholar at Bangor University was invaluable in laying the groundwork for my MA dissertation. I am a student at Villanova University, and my dissertation concerns Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Brittaniae, and emerging notions of just warfare during the twelfth century: Bangor University’s wide-ranging collection of medieval authors, along with the university’s extensive collection of modern scholarship on medieval topics, allowed me to survey the topic, gain a better understaning of the context, and to examine more closely multiple twelfth-century sources. Of greatest value, however, was Bangor’s extensive Arthurian collection, the primary reason for my visit: this allowed me ease of access to a number of Arthurian sources that, prior to coming to Bangor, I had found difficult to compile for side-by-side comparison.

A large portion of the progress I made in my research was due to the guidance of the Bangor faculty and staff: during the course of my research fellowship, Prof. Raluca Radulescu commented on several aspects of my work and offered academic mentoring. Additionally, Prof. Radulescu connected me with several other members of the university, including current students and library faculty. These connections allowed me to better identify and utilize those university facilities and research resources that were available to me as a visiting research scholar, and to benefit from the Bangor research culture. Of particular note is Special Collections Co-ordinator, Shan Robinson, who gave me access to several rare Historia Regum Brittaniae manuscripts; introduced me to the library facilities and systems; and provided me with details on Bangor’s specialized Arthurian sources, including the Flintshire, Harries Arthurian Collection.

Blog post by Casey Harris, MA candidate, University of Villanova, US, first resident short-term fellow of the Centre for Arthurian Studies, July 2017

Publication date: 31 July 2017