Pilgrimage Studies, with Philip Dunshea

In this episode I speak with Philip Dunshea about the intersections of pilgrimage, personal histories, and academic publishing. Part of the backdrop for our conversation is the book, “Remembering Peasants: A Personal History of a Vanished World”, by Patrick Joyce. We explore the transformative nature of pilgrimages, particularly in relation to peasant life and spirituality, and discuss the impact of historical contexts, such as war, on pilgrimage practices. The conversation also delves into the role of academic publishing in shaping the discourse around pilgrimage studies and offers insights for aspiring authors. We discuss my book series “Pilgrimage Studies” and some of the volumes we envision adding to the series. Ultimately, we reflect on the essence of pilgrimage as a journey towards higher understanding and meaning.

Takeaways:

*The book 'Remembering Peasants' reshapes perspectives on pilgrimage.

*Pilgrimages are deeply connected to land and heritage.

*Peasant life and pilgrimage are intertwined with communal identity.

*Healing motivations are significant in pilgrimage practices.

*Mountaineering shares similarities with pilgrimage experiences.

*Academic publishing plays a crucial role in pilgrimage studies.

*Future volumes in pilgrimage studies can explore diverse themes.

*Virtual pilgrimages are emerging as a significant topic.

*The impact of war on pilgrimage practices is profound.

*Defining pilgrimage involves seeking higher understanding and meaning.

Philip Dunshea was born in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands but grew up mainly in North Wales. He studied medieval history at St Andrews and then went to Cambridge for an MPhil and a PhD. He subsequently lectured in Celtic history at the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, Cambridge, for a few years and then moved to Glasgow to start a new career in publishing. He started work as an acquisitions editor at Peter Lang in 2018 and moved to Ontario in 2019. Philip is married with two young sons. His hobbies include mountaineering, gardening, and making curries.