Ethan Purnell

Purnell is currently an acting History and Politics teacher based in Essex and a prospective PhD candidate. He holds a Master’s degree in Medieval Studies from the University of York and specialises in medieval reactions to traumatic events, particularly in comparison to the present day. A burgeoning translator and palaeographer, with a special focus on Old Occitan literature, he has produced the first English translation of Lunel’s pandemic-era poetry. His presentation focuses on the use of medieval symbolism and aesthetics during the First World War, bridging the gap between chivalric myth and early armoured warfare.