New Books in Critical Theory Gillian Adler and Paul Strohm, "Alle Thyng Hath Tyme: Time and Medieval Life" (Reaktion, 2023)
Dec 26, 2025
Gillian Adler, an Assistant Professor of Literature at Sarah Lawrence College, dives deep into how medieval people experienced time. She explores the intertwining systems of narrative, natural, and liturgical time that colored daily life. Adler contrasts this with our modern, clock-driven existence, emphasizing the richness of medieval temporalities. She delves into the rise of mechanical clocks and their impact on labor, revealing how societal norms around time have evolved. The conversation also touches on reclaiming a more qualitative and communal sense of time in today's fast-paced world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Medieval Temporal Multiplicity
- Medieval people navigated multiple overlapping temporal systems rather than a single uniform time.
- This multiplicity allowed shifts between clock, liturgical, natural, and interior subjective times.
Linear And Cyclical Time Coexisted
- Medieval time blended linear and cyclical rhythms, balancing clock time with seasons and liturgy.
- This balance offered qualitative measures of time like intensity of prayer or grief alongside quantitative measures.
Book Born During COVID Lockdown
- Gillian Adler recounts that she and Paul started writing the book during COVID lockdown.
- The lockdown altered their sense of daily life and shaped their perspective on time.