Join author Dr Hope Doherty-Harrison and discussants Professor Carol Richardson and Dr Kate Ash-Irisarri to discuss the new book, Love and anti-Judaism in medieval English romance: Typologies of violence and desire (Manchester University Press 2025). The book launch will take place in a hybrid format, with attendance both in-person and online (via Zoom Webinar). The launch will be followed by a drinks reception.
"Love and anti-Judaism" examines the questions romance asks of the most significant events in Christian history.
Through close readings of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Orfeo, Sir Gowther and Sir Amadace, this book demonstrates that romance explores ruptures in the Christian practice of reading the Hebrew Bible as a prefiguration of the life of Christ. Such a mode of biblical reading is foundational to medieval anti-Judaism, with Judaism accused of being incomplete or incorrect because it did not depend upon Christ. Focusing on the Song of Songs, Love and anti-Judaism demonstrates that medieval exegesis often depended upon the figure of Synagoga, the personification of Jewish faith and community in the Christian imagination, for the construction of Christ as a lover who sacrificed himself for his bride.
Such dependence enabled medieval romance to build world-shaking ambivalence into its portrayals of love and sexual violence. Investigating anti-Judaism as a discourse of violence and desire that could be turned inward to expose the irresolution in Christianity, this book demonstrates that medieval romance reanimates biblical sacrifice in the vulnerabilities of love.
This is a free event, which means we overbook to allow for no-shows and to avoid empty seats. While we generally do not have to turn people away, this does mean we cannot guarantee everyone a place. Admission is on a first come, first served basis.
Book a free ticket for in-person or virtual attendance on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-love-and-anti-judaism-in-medieval-english-romance-tickets-1650463403469