MSU to host Northern Plains Conference on Early British Literature
MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University is hosting the 33rd annual Northern Plains Conference on Early British Literature (NPCEBL) at Hartnett Hall on April 9 through April 11.
The NPCEBL will utilize the Hartnett Hall Collaboration Space and the Northwest Arts Center. An evening of medieval musical works, with arrangements based on the research of MSU Professor of Music Jon Rumney, will open the conference at the Northwest Arts Center on April 9, followed by a keynote dinner open to the public on April 10.
The keynote address is by author Heather R. Darsie, a prosecution attorney by day and a Tudor-adjacent research author for the rest of her busy schedule, on Friday, April 10, from 6-9 p.m., with seats open to the public. Tickets for the keynote dinner are available for $25 on the Northern Plains Conference website.
“I am delighted to share our guest speaker with the Minot community, as she is one of my favorite authors,” said Amanda Watts, MSU faculty of humanities. “With a Juris Doctorate and a degree in German literature, she applies her critical discovery skills to historical documents to reveal new insights.”
Darsie is the author of “Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King’s Beloved Sister.” In this work, she translates correspondence to and from Anne that was not originally written in English, offering a fresh perspective on the circumstances surrounding Anne’s marriage to Henry VIII. Darsie’s research also explores the lives of other Tudor women, and she works extensively with medieval manuscripts. Her latest book centers on Anne Boleyn, exploring the legal case brought against Henry VIII's second wife, "‘If Any Person will Meddle of my Cause’ The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn.”
Some of Darsie’s books are available in Minot at Mainstreet Books and Barnes & Noble.
“The book made me a big fan, ‘Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King’s Beloved Sister,’ is where she dug into translating Anna's personal correspondence with her family from 16th century German, solving so many mysteries about the strange situation of Henry VIII's fourth marriage,” Watts said. “Heather colors a picture of political and military tensions between England and the continent that finally makes sense of the events. She is a gifted storyteller, so her analytical approach becomes a rich human story for the reader about these historical figures. She has some great side stories for us about her research projects.”
The night will also feature England's national dish, curry, served during an Indian feast, with plenty of vegetarian options and classic tikka masala served buffet-style for the event.
Since 1993, the NPCEBL has enjoyed a tradition of convivial, stimulating conferences which focus on teaching and scholarship from the beginnings of British Literature through 1800. Minot State has been the host of the conference twice, the last time being in 2017
Community members are invited to our keynote dinner evening on April 10, tickets available at $25 per person. For more information, see the Northern Plains Conference website.
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Published: 03/31/26
