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'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

Not quite sure how the image will translate to Bluesky, but here's a poem for these days from Catherine:

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 . . .

"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...

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.

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"

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...

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)