Networks in Old Norse Literature: Methods, Models, and New Directions

Edited by Liam Waters (Ohio State University) and Erika Dell’Aquila (University of Trento)

ABOUT THE BOOK

This volume seeks to cultivate and expand a network of early career researchers working in Old Norse studies by inviting submissions that foreground collaboration and dialogue. Its principal aim is to create sustained scholarly exchange among emerging voices within the field and across disciplinary boundaries. By organizing contributions in direct conversation with one another, the volume envisions not only a collection of essays but a living network of scholars engaged in shared critical reflection and mutual support. Contributors are invited to submit original, interdisciplinary, and theoretically engaged articles that explore new perspectives on the Old Norse corpus. Each accepted piece will be paired with a respondent from among the selected contributors, encouraging sustained dialogue and reciprocal critique. Through this dialogic structure, the volume seeks to generate cross-pollination of ideas, foster meaningful academic relationships, and strengthen the collaborative fabric of the field. Collaborative submissions (co-authored or jointly conceived) are particularly encouraged, though single-author pieces are equally welcome and will be paired with complementary contributions. This experimental editorial design ensures that every article participates in dialogue, promoting the exchange of perspectives and the emergence of new intellectual connections. 

The motivation behind this project is the conviction that Old Norse studies – a field that has long faced institutional contraction and limited opportunities for early career researchers – can thrive only through cooperation, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary engagement. By drawing on methodologies from fields such as literary theory, philology, material culture studies, and digital humanities, contributors will together model a dynamic, interconnected approach to Old Norse scholarship.

PROPOSED TOPICS

The volume particularly welcomes work that demonstrates how approaches developed beyond Old Norse studies can reframe, enrich, or reanimate readings of the medieval North. Proposal Stage Contributors are first invited to submit abstracts for proposed contributions. Abstracts should clearly outline the article’s primary argument, methodological approach, and its potential for dialogue with other contributions in the volume. 

Abstracts (c. 300–400 words) must be submitted by May 1st, 2026. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full articles for consideration in the volume. 

Possible areas of focus include, but are not limited to: 

• collaborative research projects by early career scholars; 

• contributions that test or adapt methodologies from other disciplines; 

• comparative work that places Old Norse texts in dialogue with other literatures or cultural traditions; 

• reflections on how methodological innovation can reshape the future of the field.

PUBLICATION

The volume will be published with Trivent Publishing in the Old Norse Studies book series (ISSN 3094-3264), headed by Felix Lummer, PhD.

DATES AND DEADLINES

• Abstract submissions by May 1st, 2026
• Notification of abstract acceptance by June 1st, 2026
• Full paper submissions by December 1st, 2026

SUBMISSIONS AND CONTACT

Interested scholars are invited to submit an abstract of c. 300–400 words in English, along with a brief CV (including affiliation, career stage, and research interests), by May 1st, 2026 to the editors at networksinoldnorseliterature@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD THE CALL FOR PAPERS IN PDF FORMAT HERE.