Rowan Rose Boyson

Dr. Rowan Rose Boyson is a Reader in Eighteenth-Century and Romantic Literature at King's College London's Department of English, Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Her research explores intersections of environmental humanities, sensory history, and Romantic literature, with a focus on air, atmosphere, and philosophical aesthetics.

Research Interests: Her work bridges Enlightenment philosophy, phenomenology, and ecocriticism, investigating how historical perceptions of air and breathing inform literary and political thought. Recent projects examine the 'right to air' in Mary Wollstonecraft's writings and sensory experiences in Romantic poetry, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental and ethical questions.

Publications: Her articles demonstrate sustained engagement with Romantic-era literature, sensory theory, and environmental humanities. Key trends include critical analyses of air/atmosphere in Enlightenment contexts, phenomenological readings of poetry, and explorations of ecological ethics in 18th-19th century texts.

Awards:

• Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2021-2022) for 'The Shared Air: Atmosphere and the Right to Breathe in Enlightenment Britain'

Engagement: She directs the Environmental Humanities Network, supervises PhDs in political thought and intellectual history, and leads public initiatives like 'Anosmia: Smell Losses/Smell Lessons'.