Emma Lipton

Emma Lipton is a Professor and Chair of the English Department at the University of Missouri’s College of Arts and Science. She holds a BA from Yale University and a PhD from Duke University. Her research focuses on medieval literature, particularly intersections between legal systems, gender studies, and dramatic performance. She has authored two major books: *The Cultures of Witnessing: Law and the York Plays* (2022) and *Affections of the Mind: The Politics of Sacramental Marriage in Late Medieval English Literature* (2007/2022). Her work analyzes legal concepts in medieval plays and the social politics of marriage in texts by Chaucer, Gower, and Margery Kempe.

Her scholarly contributions include articles on gender and law in medieval drama, feminist interpretations of Chaucer’s *Wife of Bath’s Tale*, and analyses of legal symbolism in York Plays. She previously served as Book Review Editor for *Studies in the Age of Chaucer*. Her research bridges medieval literature with legal theory, emphasizing how dramatic performances shaped legal and social understandings of witness, justice, and marriage.

Publications span journals like *Chaucer Review*, *Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies*, and *Studies in the Age of Chaucer*. Her work highlights how medieval literature engages with contemporary legal frameworks and gender norms, offering fresh perspectives on sacramental marriage and theatrical jurisprudence.