Dr. Bart Besamusca

Biography

Bart Besamusca is an Emeritus Professor at Utrecht University, specializing in Middle Dutch textual culture from an international perspective. He studied Dutch Language and Literature at Utrecht University from 1983 to 1988, during which he wrote his doctoral dissertation, 'Het Boec van Lancelote' (1988), focused on the translation technique of Lanceloet, a poet from the Middle Dutch tradition. Between 1988 and 1992, he was a Research Fellow at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and later served as a Senior Lecturer in Middle Dutch literature. His research primarily explores medieval narrative literature and has led to various significant projects, including the Bibliothek mittelniederländischer Literatur (2005-2022), and Dynamics of Medieval Manuscript: Text Collections in a European Perspective (HERA, 2010-2014). Furthermore, he contributed to several collaborative initiatives, such as the Arthurian Fiction in Medieval Europe narratives and manuscripts (CLARIN, 2011-2012), and the Changing Face of Medieval Dutch Narrative Literature (FWO&NWO, 2013-2017). Besamusca has been actively engaged with the International Arthurian Society, serving as its International President from 2002 to 2005, and was elected Honorary President in 2005. To mark his retirement in January 2023, an online exhibition entitled 'The surprising Middle Ages' was created, showcasing his contributions to the field, with parts accessible through DBNL.

Research Interests