Research
Research Interest 1
My recent work has concentrated on the interface between textualities and the materiality of the book. I am currently editing a collection of essays entitled 'Authority in European Book Culture 1400-1600. I have also recently published several articles on the theme of reading and its relationship to women and representations of women.
My current major project is a monograph which is emerging from these preoccupations provisionally entitled 'Books for the Girls? Secular Women Readers and Vernacular Printed Books in Renaissance France'. This book will examine the ways in which book culture started to respond to the perceived needs of secular women readers in the sixteenth century through adaptation, format, typography, illustration and paratexts.
I am also co-editing a collection of essays with Dr Sara Barker (History, Exeter) on 'Reading Anthologies in Renaissance Europe 1450-1650'. This collection came out of a study day and conference we organised together with Dr Sarah Alyn-Stacey in Liverpool and Trinity College, Dublin in 2009-10.
Research collaborations
Dr Sara Barker
University of Exeter
Organisation of Study Day and conference on 'Reading Anthologies' in 2009. Publication of co-edited volume anticipated.
Dr Mark Towsey
Intention to organise an international conference in 2010 on women readers and education. Intention to form a cluster on 'Readers and Reading before 1800' with numerous possible associated activities.
Dr Godfried Croenen
Conference 'Authority in European Book Culture 1400-1600' 29th June - 1st July 2006.
Professor Andrew Pettegree
The University of St Andrews
I am a bibliographical consultant on this AHRC-funded project.