Brian Gastle
bgastle.bsky.social
Brian Gastle
@bgastle.bsky.social
Professor of English, Western Carolina University. Professional Medievalist (Medieval Literature - John Gower, Geoffrey Chaucer, Margery Kempe, and others). Amateur whitewater kayaker, bird watcher, and baker.
Trying to get students to understand it takes work to understand the codes in medieval lit because that historical audience had a shared cultural frame of reference we don't share with them. "You know," I said, "Like me hearing 'Tryna strike a chord and its probly A Minor'". That worked.
February 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Brian Gastle
February's recommendations are all about love! We have two for you today. The first is The Lover's Confession: A Translation of John Gower's Confessio Amantis, edited by @bgastle.bsky.social and @catherinewcarter.bsky.social with Latin translations by Andrew Galloway. 1/3
February 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Not quite sure how the image will translate to Bluesky, but here's a poem for these days from Catherine:
February 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Please tell me I'm not the only one who has picked up a book from ILL the same day they received the copy of the same book in the mail because they forgot they ordered it used online . . .
January 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
"set in 13th century England. . . features dialogue that was true to the time period and has translations and annotations for those uninitiated in Old English."

The 13th century. You know . . . when we have to have that Old English translated . . . sigh.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
Robert Eggers Reteams with Focus Features for 13th Century Werewolf Thriller ‘Werwulf’ (Exclusive)
Eggers is coming off of 'Nosferatu' for the studio.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
January 22, 2025 at 10:35 PM
2 loaves of bread made. Chili on the stove. Extra bourbon. Split wood. Propane for generator. Shovels by door. Flashlight batteries charged. Ready for Carolinasnowmageddon24.
January 9, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Book 7 . . . so many stars . . . And I was so pleased MIP let us keep the gloss we wrote for Aldebaron in the name glossary:
"Brightest star in the constellation
Taurus. Not to be confused with Alderaan, home world of Princess Leia, which was
destroyed by the Death Star"
Hello, Bluesky.
Aldebaran in a blue sky, with a city in the background.
From Confessio Amantis (the Lover's Confession) by John Gower, England, c. 1470. Possibly made for Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England and wife of King Edward IV. At the Morgan Library, MS M.126 fol. 158v.
January 8, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Brian Gastle
Calling all manuscript scholars on the look-out for a job and who want a late Christmas present themselves, here it is:
blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...
Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts
We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts to join our team, to work with our internationally renowned collection of illuminated manuscripts made in Britain and...
blogs.bl.uk
January 2, 2025 at 3:33 PM
First Bluesky post: why move here?

For loves lawe is out of reule,
That of to moche or of to lite
Wel nyh is every man to wyte,
And natheles ther is no man
In al this world so wys, that can
Of love tempre the mesure . . . (John Gower CA 1.18-28)
January 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM