He is . . . The Most Interesting Man in Medieval Studies

Inspired the fantastic entry on this blog, I decided that Medieval Studies is long overdue its own "Most Interesting Man." And so, without further ado:

1. He can write Middle English verse, in Old Norse.
   
   
2. His essays review his peers.
   
   
3. His beard has its own British Library research pass, and festschrifts are often published in its honor.
   
   
4. He once taught a horse to transcribe medieval manuscripts.
   
   
5. His lectures on Anglo-Saxon morphemes regularly move audiences to tears.
   
   
6. He found Prester John, and Prester John had a letter . . . for him.
   
   
7. He once read Piers Plowman backwards, just to see what it would feel like.
   
   
8. He's been known to cure narcolepsy by reciting passages from Lydgate.
   
   
9. Each year at Kalamazoo, no less than five panel discussions are devoted to his reading of Chaucer.
   
   
10. When he sleeps, Vikings have dreams about him.