Shakespeare/Expert Profile

Expertise

I can answer questions about Shakespeare's life and times, his plays and poems, the history of criticism and critics' responses to Shakespeare's works, other authors of the time period, the audiences of the time period, Queen Elizabeth I, women of the Renaissance or Early Modern age, history of rhetoric, British drama, etc.

Experience in the area

I have taught Shakespeare, Early Modern literature, Early Modern women's literature, the history of rhetoric, Arthurian literature, and related general literary subjects and many others in university classrooms for more than 25 years.

Organizations

Renaissance Society of America, South-Central Renaissance Society, John Donne Society

Publications

3 books with University Presses, 1 book with HarperCollins Press; articles with: Continuum Press, DLB, Gale Research Shakespearean Criticism and Shakespearean Criticism Yearbook, College English journal, Studies in English Literature journal, CEA Critic journal, Renascence journal, Texas Papers on Language and Literature journal, several others.

Education/Credentials

Ph.D. in British Renaissance Literature and Rhetoric; M.A. in English; B.A. English and Theatre

Awards and Honors

I was editor of a scholarly journal for 10 years; Recipient of my university's Recognition Awards for Research, Teaching, and Service; two Sabbatical awards; graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude

Past/Present Clients

Panelist/Reviewer for National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, DC, 2001, 1997, and 1993; Referee for College Literature, Yale University Press (numerous editions of Shakespeare’s plays), College English, Harper/Collins (1992 to 1995: full-length book manuscripts, including the complete manuscript of The HarperCollins World Reader, Volume I.); Dramaturg for local Little Theatre, 2001–03 (including productions of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Dangerous Liaisons); Dramaturg for various productions in Theatre/Dance Dept at my University (including As You Like It, Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for Measure, The Tempest)

What do you like about this subject?

I like the way that Shakespeare's work--his characters and themes--speak to us on our deepest and most basic human levels, no matter how scholarly or technical or high-brow we may try to make it. I also like the fact that no matter how much I learn, I am never really an expert. Anybody who tells you that s/he IS an expert doesn't really understand the field!

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I would like to be involved in more stage performances of Shakespeare, certainly. I always learn more about the works when I am inside them in this way!

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Scholars believe there were a few so-called "lost plays" of Shakespeare's, based on the stage performance records of the time. Recently, a play was published as a candidate for one of these "lost plays," but I don't personally believe it is the lost work that we've wished to find.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

There is so very little that we actually know about Shakespeare, but there are many speculations about the person, himself. The same can be said about what Queen Elizabeth I actually thought or believed. I don't mind speculating about either of them.