Phillippa Bennett

Dr. Phillippa Bennett is a Senior Lecturer in English & Creative Writing and Programme Leader for the BA English programme at the University of Northampton. She is affiliated with multiple research centres, including the Centre for Cultural and Literary Studies, the Centre for Historical Studies, and the Centre for Sustainable Futures.

Education:

• Ph.D., Birkbeck College, University of London (The Last Romances of William Morris)
• MA in Nineteenth-Century English and American Literature (Distinction), King's College, University of London
• BA English (First Class), Royal Holloway, University of London

Her research centers on 19th-century literature, with a deep focus on William Morris, medievalism, the romance form, gothic and utopian writing, and the interplay between aesthetics and politics in the 19th century. She explores themes of rewilding, environmental justice, and the revival of Nordic literature. Her teaching includes modules on Nineteenth-Century Literature, Gothic Literature, Victorian Fantasy, and Brave New Worlds.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent engagement with William Morris’s literary and political legacy, particularly his later romances. The works reflect interdisciplinary interests bridging literature, environmental thought, utopianism, and socialist ideals. Key themes include wonder, wilderness, revolution, and education.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member, Editorial Board, Journal of William Morris Studies

She actively supervises PhD students in English and Creative Writing, with completed projects on gender in fairy tales, anthropocene themes in children's fantasy, translation challenges in Arabic literature, and the Gothic in young adult fiction. She has received research grants and participated in numerous academic activities, including organizing conferences and delivering public lectures. She has also contributed to podcasts and media discussions on fantasy literature.

Dr. Bennett leads workshops such as the Women Writers' Retreat and Women in Research, and has been involved in public engagement initiatives, including lectures for the William Morris Society. Her academic network is active in cultural and literary studies, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and socially engaged scholarship.