From the Middle Ages onwards, writers, artists, and composers became self-consciously aware of the vast potential for external references to enrich their works. By evoking canonical texts and their producers from the distant or more recent past, authors demonstrated their respect for tradition while showcasing their own merits. In so doing they also manipulated the memory of their readers.

This volume represents a multidisciplinary approach to the themes of citation and intertextual play. It is also an exploration of the role of memory in the cultural production of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. The essays investigate work by renowned authors, composers, and artists, as well as less familiar sources, from France, England, and Italy.