Rachel Calder

Rachel Calder serves as an Associate Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University within the Cambridge School of Creative Industries (Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences), while maintaining active teaching roles at University College London (UCL), the Institute of English Studies, and the University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education. Specializing in publishing studies and creative writing, she instructs postgraduate students in the Business of Publishing and guides aspiring authors through the publication process.

Her academic credentials include a PhD from UCL (2021) focused on Joseph Whitaker's book trade publications, an MA from the Open University, and a BA from the University of Hull.

Calder's research centers on the historical and contemporary dimensions of publishing, with particular expertise in 19th-20th century book trade evolution, literary agency development, and Cambridge's publishing ecosystem. Her work bridges archival analysis of trade journals like The Bookseller with modern industry practices, revealing persistent patterns in professional identity formation and economic structures within publishing.

Analysis of her publications reveals a consistent trajectory examining Victorian-era publishing institutions through primary trade sources, with recent work expanding into digital humanities via the Willison-funded 'Book Workers' database project tracking 19th-century booksellers.

Her distinguished recognitions include:

• Fellow in Book History at the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Studies, University of London (2022-2025)
• Willison Foundation Trust Award for 'Book Workers: Building a relational database of members of the Booksellers’ Provident Institution 1837-1900' (2025)

Calder actively supervises postgraduate research in publishing history and related fields, supported by significant grants including the Willison Award. She also convenes the London Rare Book School/University of London course 'Bookshops and Booksellers: 500 Years of Bookselling' (2023-present), demonstrating sustained knowledge exchange between academia and industry.

Operating one of the world's oldest literary agencies (founded 1896 by J.B. Pinker), she integrates decades of industry experience into her academic practice, maintaining active representation of authors while advancing scholarly understanding of publishing's historical foundations.