Category Archives: humanities

The Secret History by Donna Tartt – an investigation into a novel about studying the humanities (and murder!)

Recently I read Tartt’s “The Secret History and was impressed by the handling of a bunch of pretentious teenagers studying Julian Morrow’s exclusive (and doubtless uppity) Greek Classics class. The Guardian well summarises the reasons that you should read this book right now, and so I will spend little time repeating the qualities of excellence thatContinue reading “The Secret History by Donna Tartt – an investigation into a novel about studying the humanities (and murder!)”

How to Give up / Quit Facebook – how to live in social oblivion and still be happy.

Today I have made a decision that I am no longer going to consider myself as an active participant or user of Facebook. Ironically, perhaps, I feel the need to share this on the internet but hope that the thinking I have done around this may be of some value to others.  I spend aContinue reading “How to Give up / Quit Facebook – how to live in social oblivion and still be happy.”

Jeffrey Williams: The Rise of the Academic Novel – A graphic guide / map

This post features a diagram I made using ‘Inspiration 9’ to describe the ways in which Jeffrey Williams divides and subdivides the Campus Novel and the Academic Novel. I read ‘ The Rise of the Academic Novel’ in American Literary History, Volume 24, Number 3, Fall 2012, pp. 561-589. I like William’s thorough approach andContinue reading “Jeffrey Williams: The Rise of the Academic Novel – A graphic guide / map”

Conference Paper from ‘Theorising the Popular’ Conference at Liverpool Hope

 This post is a copy of a paper which I gave at my very first conference this summer. It was part of the fourth international Theorizing the Popular Conference held at Liverpool Hope University(details here). I am pleased to have given my first paper and include it in full. As a result of being designedContinue reading “Conference Paper from ‘Theorising the Popular’ Conference at Liverpool Hope”

Nussbaum’s remarks at Colgate University

Thanks to Andy Daddio for this brilliant photo. Truly the Daddio of Scholarly Photography! When it comes to a defence of the liberal arts in Higher Education, Martha Nussbaum is a matriarch. While some have criticised her universalism, and tendency towards vague aspiration, she nonetheless retains a dominant position in the field of debate. Dr Nussbaum hold a BA fromContinue reading “Nussbaum’s remarks at Colgate University”