Emeritus Professor Phyllis Hodgson (1909–2000) was a

Medievalist The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , , "little star", is a Typography, typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star (heraldry), heraldic star. Computer scientists and Mathematici ...

and translator of medieval texts.

Professional career

Hodgson was an undergraduate at

Bedford College, London Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as the first higher education college for women in the United Kingdom. In 1900, it became a constituent of the University of London. Having played a leading role in the advancement of women in highe ...

and did her doctoral work at the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

, where she would soon go on to earn the title of Professor. She then spent the remainder of her professional career at Bedford College before it became

Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London (RH), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public university, public research university and a constituent college, member institution of the federal University of London. It ...

, teaching Old and

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...

, her extensive time working at the college resulted in her teaching medievalists, including Elizabeth Salter, Stanley Hussey and David Burnley.https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/english/informationforcurrentstudents/departmentalprizes.aspx Hodgson continued to teach at Bedford College until her retirement in 1972.

Literary works

Hodgson edited the works of ''

The Cloud of Unknowing ''The Cloud of Unknowing'' (Middle English: ''The Cloude of Unknowyng'') is an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in Middle English in the latter half of the 14th century. The text is a spiritual guide on contemplative prayer. The ...

and the Book of Privy Counselling'', originally for the

Early English Text Society The Early English Text Society (EETS) is a text publication society founded in 1864 which is dedicated to the editing and publication of early English texts, especially those only available in manuscript. Most of its volumes contain editions of ...

in 1944, extensively revising them in her retirement. She also edited the General Prologue to ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' () is a collection of 24 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The book presents the tales, which are mostly written in verse, as part of a fictional storytelling contest held ...

'' and ''

The Franklin's Tale "The Franklin's Tale" () is one of ''The Canterbury Tales'' by Geoffrey Chaucer. It focuses on issues of providence, truth, generosity and ''gentillesse'' in human relationships. Synopsis A medieval franklin was free, non-serf yet did not hav ...

''. Hodgson continued to pursue her interests of Medieval Literature and old English Christian Mysticism, going on to publish the only modern edition of ''The Orchard of Syon'', the fifteenth-century

translation of

Catherine of Siena Caterina di Jacopo di Benincasa (25 March 1347 – 29 April 1380), known as Catherine of Siena, was an Italian mystic and pious laywoman who engaged in papal and Italian politics through extensive letter-writing and advocacy. Canonized in 1461, ...

’s ''Diologo'' that was made for the

Bridgettines The Bridgettines, or Birgittines, formally known as the Order of the Most Holy Saviour (; abbreviated OSsS), is a monastic religious order of the Catholic Church founded by Saint Birgitta (Bridget of Sweden) in 1344 and approved by Pope Urban V ...

nuns of the

Syon Monastery Syon Abbey , also called simply Syon, was a dual monastery of men and women of the Bridgettines, Bridgettine Order, although it only ever had abbesses during its existence. It was founded in 1415 and stood, until its demolition in the 16th cent ...

. Hodgson also wrote brief reviews of medievalist texts in the journal ''

Modern Language Review ''Modern Language Review'' is the journal of the Modern Humanities Research Association ( MHRA). It is one of the oldest journals in the field of modern languages. Founded in 1905, it has published more than 3,000 articles and 20,000 book reviews. ...

''.

Death

Hogdson continued to research and write as a medieval scholar long after her work at Royal Holloway was complete, and died on 3 June 2000, aged 91.

Posthumous acknowledgements

After Hodgson's death, Royal Holloway introduced the ‘Phyllis Hodgson Prize’ for any BA, Masters or PHD student with an ‘Exceptional achievement’ in Hodgson’s field.

List of literary contributions

* ''Deonise Hid Diuinite: And Other Treatises on Contemplative Prayer Related to the Cloud of Unknowing'' – Editor * ''Chaucer: The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales'' – Editor * ''The Cloud of Unknowing and the Book of Privy Counselling'' – Editor- * ''General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales'' – Editor * ''Introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer

'' – Editor * ''Three Fourteenth Century English Mystics (Writers & Their Works)'' – Writer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodgson, Phyllis Medieval texts English women editors British editors English medievalists British women medievalists Academics of Bedford College, London 1909 births 2000 deaths English women historians 20th-century English historians