Orlando 500

Join us in the Cadbury Research Library for an evening celebrating 500 years of this spectacular tale of love, war and chivalry. 

First published five centuries ago in 1516, the Italian epic poem Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto was one of the most influential works of European literature. This Renaissance bestseller inspired authors from William Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf.

Panel of three presentations, followed by an opportunity to browse a selection of original editions from the CRL collections.

Caroline Archer-Parré Orlando in print: a brief history

Caroline is Professor of Typography at Birmingham City University

Deborah Hemsoll Orlando and Shakespeare

Deborah recently graduated with an M.A. in Shakespeare and Theatre from The Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, passing with distinction. Her dissertation considered the literary connections between Shakespeare and the great Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto

Martin Killeen Orlando Illustrated

Martin is Rare Books Librarian at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.