The Digital Robert Henryson website
New trends in Henryson scholarship
Since folding as a real-life entity some years ago, The Robert Henryson Society has become a purely digital entity, run by Morna Fleming, general secretary, and Lucy Hinnie, treasurer. It has always been the intention to keep the society going in some form, but intention has not been matched, unfortunately, by action.
It has been noted in recent years that Henryson studies, which had declined for some time, has definitely picked up, galvanised in no small measure by David Parkinson's magisterial edition of the complete works, the first revision since Denton Fox's ground-breaking 1987 edition for Oxford University Press. Although we are not yet back to the heyday when there would regularly be entire panels at conferences on aspects of Henryson's work, interest and interpretation is growing, especially among early career scholars.
What is the Robert Henryson Society?
The Robert Henryson Society was formed, by Dr George Philp and others, in Dunfermline on 5 November 1993. It was founded by and for all those interested in the poetry and the life of one of Scotland's greatest poets. Under Dr Philp's guidance, annual conferences were held in Dunfermline which celebrated the works of the poet. Three volumes of Proceedings were edited by Dr Morna Fleming and published by the Society.
In 2014, the Society entered into a relationship with Dunfermline Heritage Community Projects, under which aegis the Society remained as a discrete entity, but would have a more solid footing as part of the cultural heart of Dunfermline. As DHCP had a well-established publication history, the Society could benefit from the opportunity to produce new versions of Henryson's poems and general studies of the poet and his times addressed to a generalist audience. This has indeed proved to be the case with the publication of Barbara Rasmusen's translations of Henryson's Shorter Poems, a volume which has been generally well received, and which has been placed in a number of university libraries.
Becoming a member of The Robert Henryson Society
We would very much like to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining the mailing list, particularly anyone who has an idea that could be developed. We do have funding for any project which would enhance knowledge and appreciation of Robert Henryson, particularly in the city most associated with him: Dunfermline in Fife.
Please use the 'Contact' page to get in touch with the secretary, or post a message on our Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RobertHenrysonSociety/ or Twitter page
The picture above shows our founder Dr George Philp in classic pose - deeply engrossed in one of the many pamphlets that he wrote or facilitated throughout his long association with the various organisations promoting Scots language and literature.
The Robert Henryson Website's future
Can you help?
The intention is to make this website one which will collect together the latest scholarship on the life and works of Robert Henryson, and anyone who would like to contribute an article or early draft conference paper is welcome to do so. As the mailing list builds again, it is hoped that more scholars and interested individuals will visit the website, and can begin a dialogue or collogue with others which can spark new ideas.
