Elspeth Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Elspeth Mary Kennedy, MA, DPhil, FSA (6 August 1921 – 10 March 2006) was a British
academic and a prominent medievalist.
. Her academic career was delayed by World War II
, during which she worked for the government — in 1940, while still 18 years of age she began working for MI5
, domiciled at Wormwood Scrubs. Because the work, though essential, was repetitive, Kennedy studied Russian
in her spare time, and initially laid plans to become a Russian historian. However, when she engaged a tutor to prepare her for entrance to Oxford, the tutor's enthusiasm for French
medieval history
swayed Kennedy in that direction.
Kennedy attended Somerville College, Oxford
from 1945 to 1947 on a scholarship. She went on to do research, and 1948 embarked on her life's main theme, the Lancelot en prose
.
in 1953. She became a Fellow of St Hilda's College
in 1966 and remained there until her retirement in 1986. She was an Emeritus Fellow of St Hilda's until her passing in 2006.
Kennedy was President of the Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature (1984–88), President of the International Arthurian Society (1987–89), and editor of the international journal Medium Aevum ("Middle Ages") from 1990 until 2002. She was a member of the Lancelot committees of the Royal Academy of the Netherlands and of the Huygens Instituut of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
Kennedy received the French Prix Excalibur.
Elspeth Kennedy is best known as the editor and author of works on medieval French literature
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic and a prominent medievalist.
Early life and education
Elspeth Kennedy was born in BerkshireBerkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. Her academic career was delayed by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which she worked for the government — in 1940, while still 18 years of age she began working for MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
, domiciled at Wormwood Scrubs. Because the work, though essential, was repetitive, Kennedy studied Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
in her spare time, and initially laid plans to become a Russian historian. However, when she engaged a tutor to prepare her for entrance to Oxford, the tutor's enthusiasm for French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
medieval history
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
swayed Kennedy in that direction.
Kennedy attended Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first women's colleges to be founded there...
from 1945 to 1947 on a scholarship. She went on to do research, and 1948 embarked on her life's main theme, the Lancelot en prose
Lancelot-Grail
The Lancelot–Grail, also known as the Prose Lancelot, the Vulgate Cycle, or the Pseudo-Map Cycle, is a major source of Arthurian legend written in French. It is a series of five prose volumes that tell the story of the quest for the Holy Grail and the romance of Lancelot and Guinevere...
.
Academic career
Kennedy became a lecturer in French at the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in 1953. She became a Fellow of St Hilda's College
St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hilda's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.The college was founded in 1893 as a hall for women, and remained an all-women's college until 2006....
in 1966 and remained there until her retirement in 1986. She was an Emeritus Fellow of St Hilda's until her passing in 2006.
Kennedy was President of the Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature (1984–88), President of the International Arthurian Society (1987–89), and editor of the international journal Medium Aevum ("Middle Ages") from 1990 until 2002. She was a member of the Lancelot committees of the Royal Academy of the Netherlands and of the Huygens Instituut of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
.
Kennedy received the French Prix Excalibur.
Elspeth Kennedy is best known as the editor and author of works on medieval French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
.