معرفی
Dr Laura Varnam is a Lecturer in Old and Middle English at University College, Oxford. She holds a BA from Durham, an MA from Leeds, and a DPhil from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Her research focuses on medieval literature, sacred space in medieval texts, and the works of Daphne du Maurier. She co-founded the Margery Kempe Society and has published extensively on medieval mysticism, fantasy literature, and creative criticism. Recent work includes a poetry collection inspired by Beowulf and articles on du Maurier’s legacy.
Research interests span Old English, Middle English literature, material culture, and modern reinterpretations of medieval themes. Her creative-critical approach bridges academic and artistic exploration, evident in her 2022 postmedieval article and 2024 poetry collection. She has been featured on BBC Radio 4 and literary podcasts like Backlisted, discussing du Maurier and medieval narratives.
Key publications include The Church as Sacred Space (2018), Encountering The Book of Margery Kempe (2021), and poetry in Primers Volume Seven (2024). Awards include the Nine Arches Press ‘Primers’ competition win (2023). Her teaching and supervision cover hostile space in Old English texts, queer Chaucer, and regionalism in du Maurier’s works.
