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Richard Marggraf Turley holds a Personal Chair as Professor in the Department of English & Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University, where he has been an active faculty member since 1994. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Romantic Eroticism (EN38320), Literatures of Surveillance (EN35320), and Romanticism's Radical Cultures (ENM2540), while supervising PhD candidates in both Literary Studies and Creative Writing. Educated with a BA and PhD from the University of Leeds, his scholarly foundation in Romantic literature informs his dual career as critic and creative writer. His academic profile shows continuous research output since 1994 with 61 publications, including books on Keats, food studies, and creative writing pedagogy. Turley's research centers on Romantic-era poetry with pioneering work on literary topology, food representation, and surveillance theory. He has authored Keats's Boyish Imagination (2004), Bright Stars: John Keats, Barry Cornwall and Romantic Literary Culture (2009), and co-written Food and the Literary Imagination (2014). His forthcoming 2026 monograph Fantastic Shapes: Topology and Textuality in Romantic Poetry extends his spatial analysis of Romantic texts. As an award-winning poet, he published the Wales Book of the Year-winning collection Wan Hu's Flying Chair (2009) and the crime novel The Cunning House (2015), demonstrating his commitment to creative practice. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals persistent engagement with Keatsian studies while expanding into interdisciplinary terrain. His work increasingly intersects with sustainability (via food/watermill projects), biometrics (The Quantified Romantics), and digital surveillance, showing how Romantic poetry offers frameworks for contemporary crises. The recurring focus on spatial theory across 2018-2023 outputs demonstrates his unique topology approach. His scientific awards reflect both scholarly and creative excellence: Keats-Shelley Prize for Poetry (First Prize, 2008) Wales Book of the Year 'People's Choice' Award (2010) for Wan Hu's Flying Chair ASLE/Inspire UKI Prize Essay (First Prize, 2013) shared with Archer and Thomas Turley supervises PhD students in Literary Studies and Creative Writing with 10 supervised works recorded. His grant capture includes externally funded projects like 'The Quantified Romantics: Arts and Biometrics' (2015, Arts and Humanities Research Council) exploring biometric analysis of Romantic poetry, and 'Edible Wales: Sustenance and locality' (2014, Creative Exchange Wales Network) investigating food sustainability through literary lenses. These grants demonstrate his successful bridging of humanities with scientific and social contexts. As Co-Director of the Keats Foundation International Keats Conference, he leads a major scholarly initiative, organizing annual conferences through 2025. His collaborative Arts-Science projects include BBC appearances and cross-disciplinary work with biometric researchers, while his role in the 'Supervised Work (10)' metric confirms active mentorship. Public engagement via 12 press/media contributions (including Netflix adaptation commentary) shows his commitment to translating academic work for broader audiences.

• Romantic Literature
• John Keats Studies
• Barry Cornwall Studies
• +6 more

Thomas Clark is a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London’s Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. He holds teaching roles at both King’s College London and the University of Oxford, where he has been a Stipendiary Lecturer since 2017. His research focuses on Early Modern Iberian literature, gender studies, and classical reception across European traditions. B.A. Spanish & Portuguese (Wadham College, Oxford, 2014) MSt Spanish & Portuguese (St. Anne’s College, Oxford, 2015) DPhil Spanish & Portuguese (St. Catherine’s College, Oxford, 2019) His research explores intersections between Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese literary traditions, with particular focus on epic poetry, medieval drama, and representations of marginalized groups. Clark’s current projects include a monograph on Lope de Vega’s dramatization of colonial epics, a critical edition of a 16th-century Portuguese comedy, and studies analyzing gender and sexuality in works by María de Zayas and António Ferreira. His articles critically examine mythological reinterpretations, gender dynamics in pastoral poetry, and subversive literary techniques in Early Modern works. Awards include AHRC funding and the MHRA Post-Doctoral Scholarship. Clark teaches across medieval to modern Iberian literature, language, and translation, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches. He has supervised research projects on topics ranging from classical reception to colonial narratives.

• Early Modern Epic Poetry
• Medieval and Early Modern Drama
• Gender Studies in Literature
• +4 more

Professor Guido Bonsaver serves as Professor of Italian Cultural History at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, holding fellowships at Pembroke College while tutoring at Merton, Queen's, and Wadham Colleges. His academic career spans contemporary Italian cultural studies with particular expertise in 19th-21st century historical intersections. His research trajectory reveals significant evolution from early work on Fascist-era censorship ( Censorship and Literature in Fascist Italy , 2007) through contemporary immigration narratives in cinema to current investigations of Italian-American cultural exchange ( America in Italian Culture: The Rise of a New Model of Modernity, 1861-1943 , 2023). Key thematic threads include political history's relationship with narrative forms, transnational cultural flows, and cinematic representations of social transformation. Professor Bonsaver's publications demonstrate remarkable interdisciplinary range across monographs, edited volumes, and scholarly articles examining censorship mechanisms, literary adaptations, migration narratives, and historical memory. His work consistently bridges literary analysis, film studies, and socio-political history while maintaining rigorous archival foundations. American Association of Italian Studies Book Prize (2007) for Censorship and Literature in Fascist Italy Extensive media collaborations including BBC World News, BBC 4, Radio 4, Corriere della Sera, and educational platform MASSOLIT Regular contributions to major reference works including The Oxford Handbook of Italian Literature His teaching encompasses undergraduate instruction in Italian history, literature and cinema from the 19th century to present, graduate supervision for MSt programs in Medieval and Modern Languages and Film Aesthetics, and DPhil guidance in modern Italian cultural history. Professor Bonsaver actively participates in public scholarship through video presentations and international media commentary on Italian cultural developments.

• Modern Italian Cultural History
• Fascist Era Censorship
• Italian-American Cultural Exchange
• +4 more

Guyda Armstrong is Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Manchester's School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. She serves as Director of the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, specializing in medieval Italian literature, book history, and digital humanities. Armstrong holds an MA from Edinburgh and PhD from Leeds. Her research examines textual transmission, translation history, and the materiality of books from medieval manuscripts to digital media. Current projects include machine vision analysis of early printed books and French manuscript studies. Awarded the Italian Studies article prize in 2021, Armstrong leads digital initiatives applying computer vision to cultural collections. She teaches courses on Dante, Boccaccio, and digital approaches to literary studies.

• Medieval Literature
• Digital Humanities
• Book History
• +1 more

Chi-Fang Sophia Li is Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), Taiwan. She earned her BA and MA from the University of Oxford and her MA and PhD in Renaissance Studies from the University of Warwick. Her academic career at NSYSU progressed from Assistant Professor (2009), to Associate Professor (2015), Distinguished Associate Professor (2017), and full Professor (2022). She has held visiting positions at the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance at Warwick and is an Honorary Research Fellow there. Her educational background includes: BA and MA, University of Oxford MA and PhD in Renaissance Studies, University of Warwick (2009) Her research centers on English Renaissance drama, particularly the works of Thomas Dekker and his engagement with Chaucer and classical traditions. She explores the influence of Italian novelle, Machiavelli, and the Italian Wars on English literary geography. Her interdisciplinary approach extends to the intersection of Shakespeare and music, examining how composers interpret Shakespearean texts. She has led multiple long-term research projects, including 'Italy under the English Quill' and 'Machiavelli under the English Quill', funded by Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology. Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on Dekker’s dramaturgy, collaborative practices in Jacobean theatre, and the reception of classical and Italian sources. The articles demonstrate a trend toward performance studies, intertextuality, and cultural history, with recurring themes of urban representation, political ideology, and literary legacy. Her scientific honors include: Junior Investigators Research Award from Academia Sinica (2016) NSYSU Distinguished Associate Professorship (2017–2020) Multiple NSYSU Research and Teaching Excellence Awards She has supervised research projects and mentored students, though specific advisees are not listed. She has been Principal Investigator on numerous grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the College of Liberal Arts at NSYSU. Her public engagement includes organizing lecture-concerts on Shakespeare and music and delivering public lectures on Shakespearean themes for medical humanities and cultural institutions. She is active in professional associations such as the Renaissance Society of America and the Taiwan Association of Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, where she has served as treasurer and board member. She leads the 'Composers' Shakespeare' research project and has organized international conferences, demonstrating leadership in both scholarly and public academic spheres.

• English Renaissance Drama
• Shakespeare Studies
• Thomas Dekker
• +7 more

Ian Thomson is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Non-Fiction at the University of East Anglia, affiliated with the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. He is a member of the Creative Writing Research Group and the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Research Group, contributing to both literary scholarship and creative practice. Bachelor of Arts, Pembroke College, Cambridge Thomson’s research centers on creative non-fiction, literary biography, and 20th-century historical narratives, with a particular focus on Italy, the Caribbean, and the Baltic region. His work often explores themes of exile, identity, and political upheaval through a blend of personal reflection and rigorous historical inquiry. His acclaimed biographies of Primo Levi and explorations of Haiti and Jamaica exemplify his deep engagement with postcolonial and human rights issues. His recent publications reflect a sustained interest in Italian intellectuals, wartime history, and the intersection of fiction and reality in spy literature. Articles from 2023–2024 examine figures like Indro Montanelli and Eric Ambler, situating their work within broader cultural and political contexts. Thomson has received several prestigious awards for his writing: Royal Society of Literature W.H. Heinemann Award (2003) Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize (2010) Dolman Travel Book Award (2010) He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has served as a judge for literary prizes including the RLS Somerset Maugham Prize and the Ondaatje Prize. While no formal students are listed, his mentorship likely extends through his teaching and Royal Literary Fund fellowship. He is currently working on a book about his mother’s Baltic origins during World War II, supported by his deep archival and narrative research skills. Thomson is actively involved in public intellectual life, contributing to major publications such as the Observer , Times Literary Supplement , and Spectator . He is associated with research groups at UEA and continues to publish across genres, including books, articles, and translations, demonstrating a vibrant and ongoing scholarly and creative trajectory.

• Creative Non-Fiction
• Literary Biography
• Travel Writing
• +7 more

Nicolò Crisafi is a Research and Teaching Fellow in Italian at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, and Director of Studies of Modern Languages at the same college. His research focuses on medieval Italian literature, particularly Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics Pembroke College, Cambridge His research explores narrative theory, the role of readers in literature, language-affect dynamics, and intersections between narrative forms and worldviews. His forthcoming monograph ' Dante’s Masterplot and Alternative Narratives in the ‘Commedia’ ' examines paradoxes and detours in Dante's work. He previously held a fellowship at ICI Berlin (2018–2020) for a project on utopian narratives in medieval poetry. Teaching interests include Dante studies, medieval Italian literature, and modern Italian literature. He has taught courses on Dante's Vita nova , Petrarch's Canzoniere , Boccaccio's Decameron , and Italian language proficiency.

• Medieval Italian Literature
• Dante Studies
• Narrative Theory
• +3 more

Dr. Elena Sottilotta is a Research Fellow at Murray Edwards College , University of Cambridge, with expertise in women’s and gender studies , folklore and fairy-tale studies , children’s literature , and intermedia studies . Affiliated with the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, she has held visiting roles at Brown University and Harvard University, and serves on the Scientific Committee of the European Fairy Tale Route. Research Focus: Non-canonical voices in European folk and fairy-tale traditions, contemporary media adaptations, Italian-Irish literary crossings, and Mediterranean island studies. Teaching: Supervises Italian language and literature courses (IT1, IT5), postgraduate research, and long essays, with a focus on creative pedagogy and storytelling. Awards: British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant, Fulbright scholarship, Erasmus Mundus scholarship, and others. Public Engagement: Co-organizer of Cambridge Research Network for Fairy-Tale Studies , Fairy-Tale Trouble conference, and outreach programs on diversity and social justice. Her 2025 monograph Seekers of Wonder (Princeton University Press) examines women’s roles in 19th-century Italian and Irish folk-tale collection, while her articles span topics from neo-Victorian media to gender subversion in Italian cinema. She actively participates in international lectures, conference organization, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

• Women's and Gender Studies
• Folklore and Fairy-Tale Studies
• Children's Literature
• +8 more

Dr. Elizabeth Ramsey is the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Early-Career Research Fellow at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics in the German section. She received her PhD in German Literature from the University of Chicago in 2024 with a dissertation on play concepts in German literary texts from the long nineteenth century. Her educational background includes: PhD in German Literature from the University of Chicago (2024) MSt in German from the University of Oxford (funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council) BA in German with Italian Studies from the University of Warwick Two years of research in Berlin at Humboldt-Universität and Freie Universität Dr. Ramsey's research focuses on modern German literature from the Enlightenment to present, specializing in play theories, Goethe Studies, Romanticism, fairytales, and literary modernism. She examines how literary play scenes have structural significance in narratives and explores the connection between play and agency in literature. Her teaching includes German language courses and specialized topics like German monsters and comparative fairy tales. Her notable recognition includes: Publications of the English Goethe Society Essay Prize (2024) for her essay 'Wie ich euch ein Beispiel gebe: Goethe's Egmont, theatricality and myth' Dr. Ramsey is currently developing a book based on her dissertation while conducting new research on Arthur Schnitzler using the Cambridge Schnitzler Archive, with particular focus on his depiction of female figures and reception of other German writers. She actively contributes to German literary scholarship through her interdisciplinary approach bridging literary analysis, cultural studies, and theoretical frameworks related to play and agency.

• Modern German literature and culture from the Enlightenment to the present
• Play theories and praxis
• Goethe Studies
• +5 more

Dr. Rebecca Bowen is an AHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford and a Research Fellow at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz - Max-Planck-Institut. She holds a PhD from Oxford (2020) and has been a Lecturer in Italian literature at Pembroke College since 2017, specializing in Dante and medieval lyric poetry. Her research bridges visual, literary, and material culture in late medieval and early modern Italy, with focuses on classical reception, Text/Image Studies, and the iconography of love. She curated exhibitions like Looking for Dante (2024) and led a TORCH project on Dante's Commedia . Her work has been recognized with the Society for Italian Studies Postgraduate Prize. Education: PhD in Italian Studies, University of Oxford (2020); earlier degrees not specified. Research Interests: Dr. Bowen’s interdisciplinary work examines how textual and visual media intersect, particularly in Dante’s oeuvre. She explores how medieval and Renaissance artists and writers reinterpreted classical myths (e.g., Leander and Hero) and how these narratives shaped literary and artistic traditions. Her studies of early printed books illuminate the materiality of texts and their cultural reception. Exhibitions: ‘Looking for Dante: Exploring the Divine Comedy in Print’ (Taylor Institute, 2024) ‘In the Margins’ (Taylor Institute Rare Book Display, 2018) ‘Dante and Somerville’ (Special Collections, 2018) Awards: Society for Italian Studies Postgraduate Prize (2020) Grants & Projects: Directed a 2023–2024 TORCH Knowledge Exchange project linking Dante manuscripts with modern printmaking. Collaborated with artist Wuon-Gean Ho to produce new artworks inspired by Dante’s Commedia . Labs/Teams: Associated with the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz’s Dante Depicted project (DOI: 10.17617/1.97) and the University of Oxford’s Taylor Institution Library initiatives.

• Italian Literature
• Medieval Studies
• Early Modern History
• +3 more

Alison Yarrington is an Honorary Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow's School of Culture & Creative Arts, specializing in sculpture studies, cultural history, and 19th-century art practices. Her work examines transnational artistic exchanges, particularly between Britain and Italy, focusing on aristocratic collections, exhibition histories, and the interplay between sculpture and literature. Her research explores themes such as monument design, material culture, and the symbolic roles of sculpture in national identity formation. Notable projects include studies of the 6th Duke of Devonshire's sculpture gallery at Chatsworth and the International Exhibition of 1862's role in staging cultural identities. Yarrington has contributed to over 15 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters since 2001, analyzing topics like Canova's influence, Victorian memorial culture, and the poetics of sculptural display. Her work bridges art history with literary studies, examining how sculpture interacts with poetry and spatial environments. Her publications often address lesser-explored aspects of sculpture's materiality and its role in broader cultural narratives, such as the transubstantiation metaphor in sculpture or the gendered symbolism of classical figures like the Three Graces.

• Sculpture Studies
• Art History
• 19th-Century British Art
• +3 more

Andrew Thompson is an academic at De Montfort University, affiliated with the School of Humanities and Performing Arts within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities. He holds a PhD in English from the University of Cardiff and has established a robust research profile in 19th-century literature, particularly focused on George Eliot and her intellectual, cultural, and political contexts. His educational background includes a BA in English from Cambridge University, an MA in Linguistics (TESOL) from the University of Surrey, and a PhD in English from Cardiff University. These qualifications underpin his interdisciplinary research and teaching expertise. Thompson’s research centers on the Victorian novel, especially George Eliot’s works, with a strong emphasis on her engagement with Italian culture, Dante, the Risorgimento, and Darwinism. He explores themes of moral philosophy, national identity, exile, and intertextuality, often bridging literary analysis with historical and philosophical inquiry. His work reflects a deep commitment to textual scholarship, as seen in his critical editions of Eliot’s notebooks. His recent publications reveal a sustained focus on George Eliot’s research practices, annotations, and literary sources, particularly her use of Dante and Italian history. The articles span from the 1990s to 2021, showing long-term scholarly dedication. Key trends include manuscript studies, intellectual history, and the intersection of literature with science and politics. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Thompson has contributed significantly to academic discourse through critical editions, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles. While no formal students or research grants are listed, his editorial work and collaborations (e.g., with William Baker) suggest active scholarly partnerships. His early work in medical English education (MEDERA project) also highlights interdisciplinary outreach. He is affiliated with the Institute of English at DMU, where he contributes to research group activities. His work on George Eliot’s notebooks and Anglo-Italian cultural mediation situates him within a vibrant scholarly community focused on Victorian literature and transnational influences.

• Nineteenth-Century Literature
• George Eliot Studies
• Dante and Italian Literature
• +7 more

Richard Scholar is Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Durham University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures and Executive Director of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. His scholarship focuses on early modern French/European literature, world literature, translation studies, and critical methodologies. Scholar's current Leverhulme-funded project examines the global reception of Thomas More's Utopia prior to 1627. Key research areas include: Transcultural adaptations of utopian literature Historical semantics of French-derived English words Montaigne's epistemological skepticism Early modern translation practices His publications demonstrate consistent engagement with mobility of ideas across linguistic boundaries, particularly how politically volatile texts were adapted during religious conflicts. Recent work analyzes utopianism's capacity to generate alternative sociopolitical imaginations. Awards include the Philip Leverhulme Prize and French knighthood (Palmes Académiques). He currently supervises doctoral projects on women in Italian utopian tradition, Rabelaisian operatic adaptations, and language standardization/gender in early modern France.

• Utopian Studies
• Early Modern Literature
• Translation Studies
• +2 more

Dr. Lorenzo Dell'Oso is an Assistant Professor in Italian Studies at Durham University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures. His research focuses on Dante and medieval literary studies, particularly the intersection of manuscript culture, intellectual history, and digital humanities. He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and has held postdoctoral positions at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Göttingen. Notable awards include the Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022) and the William M. Calder III Fellowship (2023). Education: BA in Modern Letters (University of Pavia), MA in Modern Philology (University of Pavia), MA in Romance Languages (Notre Dame, 2015), PhD in Italian Studies (Notre Dame, 2020). Postdoctoral roles included positions at Notre Dame, Trinity College Dublin, and Göttingen University before joining Durham. His research explores Dante's intellectual formation in late medieval Florence, emphasizing oral lectures and scholastic institutions. Recent work includes monographs on Dante and medieval universities, and edited volumes on Dante's Paradiso and medieval academic culture. He frequently lectures on Dante and digital humanities applications in medieval studies. Publications span articles on Dante's Commedia, Boccaccio's works, and medieval manuscript analysis. His forthcoming monograph (2025) examines Dante's engagement with scholastic institutions in Florence. He actively contributes to academic discourse through conferences and public lectures, including YouTube talks on Dante studies.

• Dante Studies
• Medieval Italian Literature
• Early Modern Italian Literature
• +6 more

Emma Bond is a Professor of Italian and Comparative Studies at the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, University of Oxford. She is a Tutorial Fellow at St Hugh’s College and Lecturer at New College and Oriel College. Her research focuses on migration literatures, transnationalism, postcolonial studies, and the intersection of literature with visual and material culture. She has authored three monographs, including Curating Worlds: Museum Practices in Contemporary Literature (2024), and edited/co-edited multiple volumes. Her work has been supported by grants from the British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and others. In 2019, she received a Philip Leverhulme Prize. She currently leads a research project on Italian colonialism’s legacies, collaborating with institutions in Italy, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Her teaching emphasizes 20th/21st-century Italian literature from transnational and comparative perspectives, interrogating colonial legacies. Education: Studied at the University of Edinburgh and University of Oxford, followed by postdoctoral roles. Previously taught at the University of St Andrews (2013-2022). She holds editorial roles for Modern Languages Open and Liverpool University Press’s Transnational Italian Cultures series. Her research fellowships include the British School at Rome and Wolfsonian FIU. Key research themes include postcolonial studies, psychoanalysis in literature, cultural history, and world literature. Her upcoming projects explore museum practices and colonial archives. She actively engages with contemporary art and performance to reassess imperial histories.

• Transnational Studies
• Migration and Diaspora
• Comparative Literature
• +6 more