In this series of guest posts, contributors to the eleventh volume of Ceræ: An Australasian Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies briefly discuss their work, interests, and methods in relation to their published article. Today, we welcome Sam Corradetti as a contributor. Sam holds an MFA from Temple University and is currently a doctoral candidate in English at SUNY Binghamton. Sam’s piece Retrograde: Medieval Alchemy in Contemporary Love appears in Volume 11 of Ceræ. It takes inspiration from the allegory of purifying alchemy in Cligès to create the backdrop for a contemporary queer love story. We are grateful to Sam for taking the time to sit down for a few questions!
1. Where can we find you on social media?
Links to my writing, social media, and contact info can be found on Linktree.
2. What projects are you currently working on (if you can divulge!)?
I’ve been researching medieval Norse literature, and am generating a collection of folkloresque short stories that incorporate figures, themes, and craft elements from Old Norse sagas, poetry, and þættir. I’m particularly interested in the figure of the troll. The appearance of a troll in medieval Norse literature comes with sparse description, yet this lack of description adds to their unknowable nature. I’m fascinated with how these uncanny creatures function in their source material, and for my own work, I lure the troll into contemporary settings to confront timeless questions of identity, cultural connection, and environmental destabilization.
3. What are you currently reading for fun?
I’m catching up with Percival Everett. I just finished Telephone; next up is Dr. No.
4. What is a book that you would recommend to someone who reads your article in Ceræ and wants to learn more?
For those interested in alchemy, Alchemy and Exemplary Poetry in Middle English Literature by Curtis Runstedler provides a historical overview of alchemy and explores the metaphorical functions of alchemy in medieval poetry. For those interested in creative responses to medieval literature, The Unstill Ones by Miller Oberman is a beautiful contemporary collection in conversation with Old English poetry, including translations, responses, and inspired pieces.
5. Where would you like to see your field go in the next few years? Is there an area of research in your field that you feel needs more focus/attention?
I am eager to see more contemporary literary fiction engaging with medieval sources, themes, and motifs in bold and experimental ways. And I’d love to see more critical-creative hybrid pieces in academic journals. Thank you to the wonderful Ceræ for supporting a wide variety of work!
Image credit: Detail from BnF Français 794 54r. Gallica, Bibliothèque nationale de France.