# Nora K. Chadwick

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British philologist (1891–1972)

Nora K. Chadwick Born Nora Kershaw (1891-01-28)28 January 1891 Lancashire, England Died 24 April 1972(1972-04-24) (aged 81) Cambridge, England Occupation Medievalist Notable work The Druids

**Nora Kershaw Chadwick** [CBE](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) [FSA](/source/Fellow_of_the_Society_of_Antiquaries) [FBA](/source/Fellow_of_the_British_Academy) (28 January 1891 – 24 April 1972)[1] was an English [philologist](/source/Philologist) who specialised in [Anglo-Saxon](/source/Anglo-Saxon), [Celtic](/source/Celtic_studies) and [Old Norse studies](/source/Old_Norse_studies).

## Early life and education

Nora Kershaw was born in [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire) in 1891, the first daughter of James Kershaw and Emma Clara Booth, married in 1888. Nora's sister Mabel, born in 1895, converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun.[2]

She received her undergraduate degree from [Newnham College, Cambridge](/source/Newnham_College%2C_Cambridge) (where she was later an Honorary Life Fellow) and lectured at [St Andrews](/source/University_of_St_Andrews) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). She returned to Cambridge in 1919 to study [Anglo-Saxon](/source/Old_English_language) and [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse) under Professor [Hector Munro Chadwick](/source/Hector_Munro_Chadwick). They were married in 1922.[3] Nora's mother and stepfather and [Enid Welsford](/source/Enid_Welsford) were the only wedding guests.[2]

The Chadwicks turned their home into a [literary salon](/source/Salon_(gathering)), a tradition which Mrs. Chadwick maintained after the death of her husband in 1947.[3]

## Career

Most of her life was spent on research, in her later years primarily on the Celts.[3] She was University Lecturer in the Early History and Culture of the British Isles at the University of Cambridge from 1950 to 1958. She received honorary degrees from the [University of Wales](/source/University_of_Wales), the [National University of Ireland](/source/National_University_of_Ireland) and the University of St Andrews, and was made Commander of the [Order of the British Empire](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) in 1961.[3] In 1965 she delivered the [British Academy](/source/British_Academy)'s Sir John Rhŷs Memorial Lecture.[4]

Chadwick took an interdisciplinary approach and wrote on many topics; she demonstrated influentially the study of multiple "early cultures of north-west Europe" and brought comparative evidence to bear on heroic literature. Nora Chadwick is best known for her work on the Celts, particularly on the earliest period.[5]

## Bequest

Nora Chadwick died in Cambridge; she left a sum to the University of Cambridge to endow a readership in Celtic Studies.[6]

## Publications

She published the first full English translation of *[Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks](/source/Hervarar_saga_ok_Hei%C3%B0reks)* together with other sagas and ballads in *Stories and Ballads of the Far Past* (1921), as well as a translation of the poem *[Hlöðskviða](/source/Hl%C3%B6%C3%B0skvi%C3%B0a)* found within Heidrik's saga.

- Kershaw, Nora (1921), [*Stories and Ballads of the Far Past*](https://archive.org/details/storiesballadsof00chaduoft), Cambridge University Press, pp. 79–150, [e-text](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33471)

- Kershaw, N., ed. (1922), ["13. The Battle of the Goths and the Huns"](https://archive.org/stream/anglosaxonnorsep00chadrich#page/142), [*Anglo-Saxon and Norse poems*](https://archive.org/details/anglosaxonnorsep00chadrich), Cambridge [Eng.] The University press

With her husband, she published the three volume work *The Growth of Literature* between 1932–40.

- *The Ancient Literatures of Europe*, vol. I, 1932[7]

- *Russian Oral Literature, Yugoslav Oral Poetry, Early Indian Literature, Early Hebrew Literature*, vol. II, 1936

- *The Oral Literature of the Tatars and Polynesia, etc.*, vol. III, 1940[5]

She also wrote *[The Beginnings of Russian History, an enquiry into sources](https://archive.org/details/beginningsofruss0000unse)* (1946).

Chadwick collaborated with [V. M. Zhirmunsky](/source/Viktor_Zhirmunsky) on a revision of the part of volume III that deals with epic poetry in Central Asian languages. The revised text was published separately in 1969 as *[Oral Epics of Central Asia](https://archive.org/details/oral-epics-of-central-asia-chadwick-nora-k.-nora-kershaw-1891-1972-free-download)*.[8]

In 1955 she published *Poetry and Letters in early Christian Gaul*.

Chadwick wrote about Celtic Britain and Breton history, and collaborated with [Myles Dillon](/source/Myles_Dillon) and [Kenneth H. Jackson](/source/Kenneth_H._Jackson).

- *Early Scotland* (1949); [*Introduction*, pages xi–xxvi, by Nora Kershaw Chadwick](https://books.google.com/books?id=lRE8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PR11)

- *Studies in Early British History* (editor and co-author, 1954)[9]

- *Celtic Britain (ancient people and places)* (1963)

- *The Age of Saints in the Celtic Church* (1964)[10]

- *The Colonization of Brittany from Celtic Britain* (1965)[11]

- *The Druids* (1966)[12]

- *The Celtic Realms* (1967, with [Myles Dillon](/source/Myles_Dillon))[13]

- *[The Celts](https://archive.org/details/celts00chad_0)* (1970, with an introductory chapter by Dr. J.X.W.P. Corcoran: 'The Origins of the Celts: The Archaeological Evidence')[14] [1997 pbk edition](https://books.google.com/books?id=jahonLSS_dUC)

On Anglo-Saxon language and literature:

- *The Study of Anglo-Saxon* (1955, with her husband)

- "The Monsters and Beowulf" (1960), in which she suggests that the monsters in *[Beowulf](/source/Beowulf)* are drawn entirely from Scandinavian tradition.[15]

A list of the publications of Hector and Nora Chadwick was printed for her 80th birthday in 1971.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [CHADWICK, Nora Kershaw](http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U153078), *Who Was Who*, A & C Black, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Straushaar_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Straushaar_2-1) Chance, Jane, ed. (2005). ["Chapter 27. "An Extraordinary Sense of Powerful Restlessness" *Nora Kershaw Chadwick (1891–1972)* by Sandra Ballif Straushaar"](https://books.google.com/books?id=5QrnjT2NT5MC&pg=PA367). *Women Medievalists and the Academy*. Univ of Wisconsin Press. pp. 367–379. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780299207502](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780299207502).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-folklore_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-folklore_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-folklore_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-folklore_3-3) [Davidson, H. R. Ellis](/source/Hilda_Ellis_Davidson) (1972). "Nora Kershaw Chadwick". *[Folklore](/source/Folklore_(journal))*. **83** (3): 254–55. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0015-587X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-587X). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1259552](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1259552).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Sir John Rhŷs Memorial Lectures"](https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/lectures/listings/sir-john-rhys-memorial-lectures/). *The British Academy*. [text](https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/2103/51p235.pdf)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-encyc_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-encyc_5-1) Löffler, Marion (2006). "Chadwick, H.M. and Nora K.". In Koch, John T. (ed.). [*Celtic Culture: A-Celti*](https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&q=Nora+Chadwick+Cambridge+Celts&pg=PA397). *Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia*. Vol. 2. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 397–98. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781851094400](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781851094400).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge*](https://books.google.com/books?id=I79SierlusoC&q=Nora+Chadwick+Cambridge+Celts&pg=PA747). University of Cambridge. 2008. p. 747. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780521731492](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780521731492).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ashley-Montagu1938_7-0)** Ashley-Montagu, M. F. (1938). "Review of *The Growth of Literature. Volume I The Ancient Literature of Europe* by H. Munro Chadwick and N. Kershaw Chadwick". *Isis*. **29** (1): 196–197. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/347439](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F347439). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0021-1753](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-1753).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Lang, D. M.](/source/David_Marshall_Lang) (1970). ["Book Review: *Oral Epics of Central Asia* by N. K. Chadwick & V. Zhirmunsky"](https://www.proquest.com/openview/c7bdf8cbd2e84b4a4ea4847774ccd9ef/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1819308). *Slavonic and East European Review*. **48** (111): 291.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Magoun, F. P. Jr.](/source/Francis_P._Magoun%2C_Jr.) (October 1955). "Review: *Studies in Early British History by Several Authors* by Nora Kershaw Chadwick". *[Speculum](/source/Speculum_(journal))*. **30** (4): 628–31. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/2849623](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2849623). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [2849623](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2849623).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Ó Fiaich, Tomás (1966). "Reviews: *The Age of the Saints in the Early Celtic Church* by Nora Kershaw Chadwick; *Irish Monks in the Golden Age* by J. Ryan". *Studia Hibernica* (6): 195. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [20495860](https://www.jstor.org/stable/20495860).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Wrenn, C. L.](/source/Charles_Leslie_Wrenn) (1968). ["Book Review: *The Colonization of Brittany from Celtic Britain* by Nora K. Chadwick"](https://www.proquest.com/openview/1c8c6e4bafde9efdec87e934c1cf08ea/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1819162). *Medium Ævum*. **37**: 105–106. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/43627413](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F43627413). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [43627413](https://www.jstor.org/stable/43627413).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Turner, Ralph V. (October 1966). "Review: *The Druids* by Nora K. Chadwick". *[The American Historical Review](/source/The_American_Historical_Review)*. **72** (1): 136–37. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1848194](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1848194). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1848194](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1848194).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Thomson, Derick S. (October 1969). "Review: *The Celtic Realms* by Myles Dillon, Nora K. Chadwick". *The Scottish Historical Review*. **48** (146, Part 2): 174–76. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [25528803](https://www.jstor.org/stable/25528803).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Powell, T.G.E.](/source/T._G._E._Powell) (June 1971). ["Review: Nora Chadwick: *The Celts*. With an introductory chapter by J. X. W. P. Corcoran"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/reviews-chadwick-nora-the-celts-with-an-introductory-chapter-by-j-x-w-p-corcoran-harmsworth-penguin-books-1970-301-pp-4-maps-8-pls-45p/8567760309C8E9D071B4E551B809D17C#). *[Antiquity](/source/Antiquity_(journal))*. **45** (178): 152. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0003598X00069350](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0003598X00069350).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Eliason, Norman E. (April 1961). "Review: *The Anglo-Saxons. Studies in Some Aspects of Their History and Culture Presented to Bruce Dickins* by Peter Clemoes". *[The Modern Language Review](/source/The_Modern_Language_Review)*. **56** (2): 238–39. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3721913](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3721913). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3721913](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3721913).

## External links

- [Works by Nora Kershaw](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/36427) at [Project Gutenberg](/source/Project_Gutenberg)

- [Works by or about Nora K. Chadwick](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Kershaw%2C%20Nora%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Nora%20Kershaw%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Kershaw%2C%20Nora%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Nora%20Kershaw%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Kershaw%2C%20N%2E%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Nora%20Kershaw%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Kershaw%2C%20Nora%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Nora%20Kershaw%22%29%20OR%20%28%221891-1972%22%20AND%20Kershaw%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nora K. Chadwick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_K._Chadwick) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_K._Chadwick?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.