معرفی
Dr. Rachel Franks is an Honorary Associate Lecturer at the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle, with concurrent research roles at the State Library of New South Wales and the University of Sydney. Her work bridges crime fiction, true crime, popular culture, and information science, focusing on ethical storytelling, gender dynamics, and historical crime narratives.
- Education: PhD in Australian Crime Fiction (University of Central Queensland), MA in Creative Writing, BA in Information Studies
Rachel’s research explores interdisciplinary intersections of time, space, and corporeal representation in crime narratives, including analyses of Agatha Christie’s cold case techniques (2016) and food symbolism in Arthur Upfield’s novels (2018). Her articles emphasize genre evolution and cultural critiques of justice systems.
Key contributions include co-editing Crime Uncovered: Private Investigator (2016) and authoring the biography of hangman Robert Howard (An Uncommon Hangman, 2022). Awards:
- 2017 PopCAANZ Outstanding Contribution
- 2016 AAWP Critical/Theoretical Paper
- 2015 Jean Arnot Fellowship
Her work also addresses digital librarianship, advocating for emotional storytelling in archives and equitable access to Indigenous collections. As Coordinator at State Library NSW, she integrates public engagement with scholarly rigor in crime studies.
