Andrew Benjamin Bricker

Andrew Benjamin Bricker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literary Studies at Ghent University (Belgium), specializing in eighteenth-century literature and the intersection of literature and law. His research focuses on how satirists navigated legal restrictions in the long eighteenth century through innovative verbal and visual strategies.

Bricker's research interests encompass satire studies, eighteenth-century literature, law and humanities, press freedom, and visual culture. His work examines how satirists developed techniques like gutted names, allegory, caricature, and other forms of 'deverbalization' to evade libel prosecution while still delivering pointed social and political criticism.

His recent publications (2022-2023) reveal a consistent focus on the relationship between satire and legal systems, with particular attention to historical cases involving Defoe, Swift, Pope, and other major eighteenth-century figures. These works demonstrate how satire and law mutually shaped each other during this period, with legal challenges prompting satirical innovation.

Bricker maintains an active international scholarly network, collaborating with researchers from institutions including University of Groningen, Open University of the Netherlands, and University of Toronto. His interdisciplinary approach bridges literary studies, legal history, and cultural studies.