Scott W. Gregory

Scott W. Gregory is an Associate Professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on the evolution of vernacular fiction in late imperial China, particularly the socio-cultural and publishing dynamics surrounding the Ming dynasty novel Shuihu zhuan (The Water Margin). His work bridges historical analysis and literary criticism, examining how editions of the novel reflect shifts in elite and commercial engagement with vernacular literature during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Gregory’s scholarship highlights the interplay between paratextual materials (prefaces, commentaries) and reader reception, arguing that later commercial editions of Shuihu zhuan were reshaped to cater to broader audiences while circumventing governmental oversight. This research situates vernacular fiction within the broader context of Ming-era publishing culture and social stratification.