Sarah Tolmie

Sarah Tolmie is a Professor of English at the University of Waterloo. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and MA/BA degrees from the University of Toronto, specializing in medieval and early modern literature, creative writing, and cognitive poetics. Her research bridges visionary poetry, historiography, and speculative fiction, with a focus on embodiment and philosophical allegory.

• Education: PhD (University of Cambridge), MA & BA (University of Toronto)

Research Interests: Tolmie’s work explores intersections between medieval literature, weird fiction, and existential themes. Her recent memoir-in-aphorisms and Sacraments for the Unfit (2023) examine pandemic isolation, ghostly relationships, and philosophical estrangement. She has published extensively on William Langland’s Piers Plowman and M.R. James’s ghost stories.

Selected Scientific Awards:

• 2020 Philip K Dick Special Citation (The Little Animals)
• 2019 Aurora & Rhysling Poetry Awards (Ursula Le Guin in the Underworld)
• 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize Finalist (The Art of Dying)
• 2016 Pat Lowther Award Shortlist (Trio)
• 2007 University of Waterloo Travel Grant

Advising & Grants: Tolmie supervises graduate work in Middle English/Scots historiography, premodern theory of mind, and cognitive poetics. She has received funding from the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, and SSHRCC for projects including The Salvation Suit and The Little Animals.

Labs & Collaborations: Tolmie’s creative work intersects with academic research via collaborations like the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction entry and the Fiery Sparks of Light AR poetry installation (2021) at the Frankfurt Book Fair, alongside Margaret Atwood and Canisia Lubrin.