Lesley Larkin

Lesley Larkin is a Professor of English at Northern Michigan University, specializing in African American literature, science fiction theory, and the intersections of race and literary criticism. Her work interrogates how Black authors navigate plural audiences and the ethical responsibilities of cross-cultural reading. She holds a Ph.D. in English and has written extensively on topics such as rememory in Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the defamiliarizing effects of speculative fiction, and postgenomic discourse in contemporary literature.

Education:

• Ph.D. in English (university unspecified)

Research Focus: Larkin’s scholarship bridges African American literary traditions with science fiction frameworks, emphasizing how marginalized narratives challenge dominant cultural narratives. Her monograph Race and the Literary Encounter (2015) explores how Black authors from James Weldon Johnson to Percival Everett construct plural audiences. Current work includes a forthcoming project on genomics, race, and the humanities (Reading in the Postgenomic Age).

Teaching & Influence: She regularly teaches Beloved, guiding students to analyze its exploration of memory and systemic racism. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes critical engagement with texts as tools for societal critique.