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Wagner Lecture in Medieval Culture to explore forgery, faith

March 17, 2016

rare-booksRobert Berkhofer, associate professor of history at Western Michigan University, will deliver the inaugural Wagner Lecture in Medieval Culture at NIU on “Forgery and Faith in the Liber Traditionum of Saint Peter’s, Ghent.”

Berkhofer will speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in Cole Hall 100.

During his presentation, he will examine motives for the forgery of documents and the historical rewriting of texts by medieval monks.

The focus is a case of the monastery of Saint Peter’s, Ghent, which was the burial site for the medieval Courts of Flanders. In particular, his talk will focus on issues relating to narrativity and truth using both historical and literary approaches to manuscript evidence.

The event is co-sponsored by the Concentration in Medieval Studies, the David L. Wagner Medieval Studies Endowment, the Friends of the NIU Libraries and the Department of History.

The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available after 7 p.m. in the Visitors Parking Lot on Carroll Avenue just west of Founders Memorial Library.

For more information, call (815) 753-8091 or (815) 753-6823 or email vgarver@niu.edu.