When I learned about the publication of The Jewish Annotated Apocrypha, I was thrilled. Edited by Jonathan Klawans and Lawrence M. Wills, this is an excellent volume and worth owning for any scholar of early Judaism and early Christianity. So I decided to write up some thoughts about it. The editors emphasize a few ways … Continue reading Review of The Jewish Annotated Apocrypha
Author: Brandon W. Hawk
The Book of Cerne Harrowing of Hell: A Translation
Harrowing of Hell in the Tiberius Psalter (London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius C.vi; c.1050), folio 14r. This piece of dramatic liturgy retelling the Harrowing of Hell (in Latin) survives in the ninth-century Book of Cerne (Cambridge, University Library, Ll.1.10; 820x840, Mercia), on folios 98v–99v. This verse text is based on the Latin Pseudo-Augustine Sermo 160, … Continue reading The Book of Cerne Harrowing of Hell: A Translation
Ethiopian Biblical Canons and Apocrypha
[This is the third in a series of posts as I write and gear up for the publication of a new introduction to biblical apocrypha for general audiences. EDIT: Apocrypha for Beginners is on sale now! Check out all of the posts in this series here.] One of the most significant aspects of studying biblical … Continue reading Ethiopian Biblical Canons and Apocrypha
What Are Biblical Apocrypha?
[This is the second in a series of posts as I write and gear up for the publication of a new introduction to biblical apocrypha for general audiences. EDIT: Apocrypha for Beginners is on sale now! Check out all of the posts in this series here.] One of the most basic questions we encounter in … Continue reading What Are Biblical Apocrypha?
Comparing Biblical Canons
I'm very pleased to announce that I've been asked to write a new book that presents an introduction to biblical apocrypha for general audiences. Over the next several months, I'll be writing the book and gearing up for its publication. EDIT: Apocrypha for Beginners is on sale now! Check out all of the posts in … Continue reading Comparing Biblical Canons
Brooklyn Roads: A Manuscript Provenance Story
https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/6899587060/ Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY But as my mind walks through those placesI’m wonderin’What’s come of them….Neil Diamond, “Brooklyn Roads” This is a story about trying to hunt down a medieval manuscript supposedly in the Brooklyn Museum. It all started when I agreed to contribute an introduction and translation of the Latin Life of … Continue reading Brooklyn Roads: A Manuscript Provenance Story
A Response to Shannon Chamberlain on Fan Fiction
Just yesterday, The Atlantic published an article by Shannon Chamberlain about fan fiction and sexuality. The article is a smart piece, linking fan fiction practices in the eighteenth century with current pop culture trends. A previous iteration of the article was titled "The Surprising 18th-Century Origins of Fan Fiction," which betrays some of the author's … Continue reading A Response to Shannon Chamberlain on Fan Fiction
Medievalism in The Rise of Skywalker
With the release of Star Wars, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, the nine-part narrative that George Lucas began in 1977 has come to an end. That does not mean an end to Star Wars stories, but it does bring a conclusion to the main story arc. Like many other episodic narratives, more Star Wars … Continue reading Medievalism in The Rise of Skywalker
Preaching Apocrypha in Early England: Historiographic Currents
I've been thinking for a while about posting my talk from Kalamazoo 2019, and I've finally gotten around to doing that. I was invited to present about my work on apocrypha for a session titled "Old English Homilies I: New Discoveries, New Insight," sponsored by the Dictionary of Old English (DOE) and Electronic Corpus of … Continue reading Preaching Apocrypha in Early England: Historiographic Currents
Medieval World Literature Senior Seminar
Over the past month or so I've tweeted about my senior seminar for English majors, and several people were interested in the course, so I'm posting a version of the reading schedule here. In many ways, it's experimental, driven by my interest in theorizing "the global Middle Ages," and I'm tackling some works of literature … Continue reading Medieval World Literature Senior Seminar