We will continue our autumn events season with a lecture by Dr Sjoerd Levelt, Senior Research Associate and Prof Ad Putter, Professor of Medieval English at the University of Bristol. They were the curators of the exhibition North Sea Crossings at the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University, which ran from 3 December 2021 – 18 April 2022.
The exhibition and accompanying publication told the story of Anglo-Dutch exchanges through beautiful medieval manuscripts, early prints, maps, animal stories and other treasures from the Bodleian’s collections.
Taking inspiration from these objects, Dr Levelt and Prof. Putter will take us on a journey across the North Sea, the highway that has connected Britain with its Dutch neighbours, a mere 33 kilometres away at its closest point, for hundreds of years.
Focusing on the period from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the exhibition explored how exchanges between England and the Netherlands have shaped literature, book production and institutions such as the Bodleian itself, on either side of the North Sea. It also told the story of a very crafty Dutch visitor, Reynard the Fox.
In the aftermath of Britain’s exit from the European Union, this exhibition on the long history of Anglo-Dutch relations has much to tell us about the benefits of international collaboration today.
Doors open: 6.30pm
Talk begins: 7pm
End of talk: 8.30pm
Event closes: 9pm
