Abstract

Studies of early modern English literary manuscripts are important in various aspects such as identifying previously unknown works, broadening research horizon, reevaluating an author’s impact in the manuscript medium, and redefining early modern manuscript culture. Peter Beal’s (1944-2024) online Catalogue of English Literary Manuscripts (CELM, https://celm.folger.edu/, 2011-, revised from his Index of English Literary Manuscripts, 1450–1700 [4 vols, 1980-1993]) represents the seminal scholar’s lifelong, monumental achievement. I discuss recent advances in the field based on my study of the 17^th-century manuscripts Hesperides, or the Muses’ Garden at the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Sancroft papers at the Bodleian Library. The project of revising the CELM demands effective leadership and international cooperation.

Bio

Hao Tianhu (PhD, Columbia University) is Qiushi Distinguished Professor, vice dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Zhejiang University, China. Erasmus Mundus Scholar (2013); Harvard-Yenching Institute Visiting Scholar (2023-24). He specializes mainly in early modern English literature and comparative literature. In addition to many journal articles and several translations, his publications include three Chinese monographs (2014, 2020, 2022) and an English monograph Commonplace Reading and Writing in Early Modern England and Beyond published by Routledge (2024). He has won two national research awards. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Milton Society of America (2021-23). He also serves on the editorial board of ANQ, Milton Quarterly and Multicultural Shakespeare and as the editor of Medieval and Renaissance Studies.