Alison Chapman

Alison Chapman is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She returned to Birmingham in 2000 and served as Department Chair from 2015–2024. Her research focuses on English Renaissance literature, John Milton, and intersections between literature and law. She has published extensively on Milton’s works and legal contexts, including books analyzing law and jurisdiction in his writings. Chapman also teaches courses on the history of the book and material culture, having participated in UVA’s Rare Book School. She has been recognized in Best American Essays twice for creative non-fiction.

• Education: B.A., Davidson College; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (English Renaissance Literature)
• Research Interests: John Milton, legal history, book culture, literature’s relationship with law and religion

Her recent work explores how legal frameworks shaped Milton’s writings and early modern English literature. She has written on topics such as Paradise Lost’s legal imagery and the role of equity in Milton’s divorce tracts. Chapman’s teaching emphasizes writing skills and material book history, integrating hands-on study of early texts. She is an avid canoeist and kayaker, often exploring wilderness areas outside Birmingham.

• Awards: Twice honored in Best American Essays
• Professional Activities: Chair of UAB English Department (2015–2024), participant in Rare Book School