Writing the North of England in the Middle Ages: Regionalism and Nationalism in Medieval English Literature

The North of England in the Middle Ages explores the complexities of the relationship between North and South in medieval English literature, illustrating the desire and derision of the North by the rest of the country. Joseph Taylor argues that England's sense of nationhood must be negotiated and renegotiated from within, and that regionalism is both contained within and constitutive of its apparent opposite, nationalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Rewritten text:
The North of England in the Middle Ages presents a captivating literary exploration of the North-South divide, delving into the intricate complexities of the relationship between North and South across a diverse array of texts. By conducting a thorough analysis of the emergence of this divide in medieval English literature, this study sheds light on the intricate interplay of desire and derision towards the North by the rest of the country. Joseph Taylor takes a unique approach by examining England's problematic sense of nationhood as a dynamic that must be negotiated and renegotiated within national borders rather than solely relying on external factors. Through fresh interpretations of texts like Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the fifteenth-century Robin Hood ballads, and the Towneley plays, Taylor compellingly argues for the significant contribution of the North to processes of imagining nationhood in the Middle Ages. He demonstrates that regionalism, often perceived as an antithesis to nationalism, is in fact deeply intertwined with and constitutive of it.

The North-South divide in medieval England was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, shaped by a range of cultural, economic, and political factors. The literature of the period provides a rich source of evidence for exploring these dynamics, offering a window into the minds and hearts of the people who lived in this region. In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, for example, the pilgrims journey from the North to the South, encountering a diverse range of characters and experiences that reflect the differences between the two regions. The North is portrayed as a place of coldness, darkness, and poverty, while the South is depicted as a land of warmth, light, and wealth.

However, the literature of the Middle Ages is not solely a reflection of the North-South divide. It also offers insights into the broader processes of nationhood and identity formation. The Robin Hood ballads, for instance, are a popular genre of medieval literature that tells the story of a heroic outlaw who robs from the rich to give to the poor. These ballads often depict Robin Hood as a symbol of resistance against oppressive authority and as a champion of the common people. They also highlight the importance of regional identity and the role that the North played in shaping the identity of England as a whole.

The Towneley plays, another important genre of medieval literature, also offer insights into the North-South divide. These plays were performed at the Towneley Hall in Lancashire, a royal residence owned by the Towneley family. The plays often depict the struggles of noblemen and women from the North against their southern counterparts, reflecting the tensions and rivalries that existed between the two regions.

In addition to these literary sources, historical records and archaeological evidence also provide valuable insights into the North-South divide in medieval England. For example, the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership conducted in 1086, reveals that the North was significantly poorer than the South, with a lower population and a smaller amount of land owned by the nobility. This suggests that the North-South divide was not just a cultural or economic phenomenon but also had a political dimension.

The North-South divide in medieval England was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that was shaped by a range of cultural, economic, and political factors. The literature of the period provides a rich source of evidence for exploring these dynamics, offering a window into the minds and hearts of the people who lived in this region. Through sustained analysis of the North-South divide as it emerges in the literature of medieval England, this study illustrates the convoluted dynamic of desire and derision of the North by the rest of the country. Joseph Taylor's book provides fresh readings of texts such as Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the fifteenth-century Robin Hood ballads, and the Towneley plays, arguing for the North's vital contribution to processes of imagining nation in the Middle Ages and showing that that regionalism is both contained within and constitutive of its apparent opposite, nationalism.

ISBN-13: 9781009182119