The Medieval English Studies Symposium ever since its very beginning has served as a meeting point bringing together specialist in the areas of medieval research. The Symposium encourages all diachronic oriented initiatives and serves as a forum for discussion to all interested in the history of the English literature.

The Department of English Literature and Literary Linguistics is pleased to announce the 12th Medieval English Studies Symposium, organised at the Faculty of English, at Adam Mickiewicz University. MESS12 which will be held in Poznań from 30^th November to 1^st December 2013. Its aim is to bring together specialists in the areas of medieval English literature and culture. This year MESS is titled: Between Nostalgia and Hope: The Waning of the Middle Ages.