معرفی
Karl Bell is an Associate Professor in Cultural and Social History at the University of Portsmouth, specializing in supernatural and environmental history, folklore, and Victorian popular culture. He joined in 2007 after teaching at the University of East Anglia.
- Co-director, Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures
- Co-Principal Investigator, 'From Sail to Steam, Carbon to Green' (Lloyd’s Register-funded, 2025-2031)
- Former director, Supernatural Cities project (2016-2022)
Education:
- PhD in History, University of East Anglia (2007)
- MA in Modern History, Birkbeck College, University of London (2001)
- BA Hons in Modern History, Anglia Ruskin University (1992)
His research explores the relationship between modernity, enchantment, and the Gothic, with a focus on coastal environments, psychogeography, and the revival of folklore in contemporary culture. He has authored books like the award-winning The Legend of Spring-heeled Jack and The Magical Imagination.
Recent publications examine maritime haunting, urban Gothic mindscapes, and the evolution of supernatural narratives. His work bridges historical analysis with literary and cultural studies, emphasizing affective landscapes and storytelling.
Scientific Awards:
- Outstanding PhD Supervisor Award, University of Portsmouth (2017)
He has secured AHRC funding for 'Lost Voices: Spiritualism in the First World War' (2017) and leads the Lloyd’s Register-funded 'From Sail to Steam' project (2025-2031). As founder of Portsmouth Darkfest (2016-2021), he fostered academic-creative collaborations and developed the Portsmyth app.
He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including the MA Victorian Gothic distance learning program, and serves on editorial boards of Revenant and Coastal Studies and Society.
