Ben Davies

Ben Davies is an Associate Professor in Literature & Culture at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences and the Centre for Studies in Literature. His research sits at the intersection of contemporary literature, narrative theory, and the sociology of reading, with a focus on time, temporality, and the novel. He has held prestigious fellowships at the Institute of English Studies (University of London) and CRASSH (University of Cambridge), and currently serves as Chair of University English and member of the Institute of English Studies Advisory Council.

Education:

• PhD in English, University of St Andrews
• MA in English, University of St Andrews
• MSt in English (1900-Present), University of Oxford

Ben’s research explores modern and contemporary literature, narrative theory, time and temporality, and the sociology of reading. His work includes ethnographic studies of pandemic-era reading practices and theoretical inquiries into critical reading and method. He teaches modules spanning critical theory, postmodern fiction, and temporal studies, supervising MRes and PhD projects on contemporary literature and AI authorship.

Scientific Awards:

• Carlsberg Foundation Grant (2020)
• British Association for Contemporary Literary Studies Monograph Prize (2022)

His ethnographic and theoretical contributions highlight the interplay between reading, time use, and crisis contexts, with a focus on curricular innovation and public engagement in literary studies.