A team of researchers, including Dr Rachel White from our Department of English Studies, has presented new evidence about one of the most famous insults in English literature – the phrase ‘upstart crow’ aimed at William Shakespeare.

A team of researchers, including Dr Rachel White from our Department of English Studies, has presented new evidence about one of the most famous insults in English literature – the phrase ‘upstart crow’ aimed at William Shakespeare.

It is with immense sadness that we must announce that Professor Simon James, our friend and colleague in our Department of English Studies, has died.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has been awarded a highly regarded Athena Swan Silver Award, becoming only the second faculty of its kind in the UK to receive this distinction. This milestone acknowledges the significant progress made in advancing gender equality across all departments and highlights a firm commitment to continued improvement through to 2030.

Five novels have been shortlisted for the 2025 Climate Fiction Prize. Academics, including Associate Professor in African Literature Louisa Egbunike, review the finalists ahead of the announcement of the winner on May 14.

Professor Angela Woods, Director of the Institute for Medical Humanities (IMH) and a Professor of Medical Humanities in our Department of English Studies, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Linköping University.

We are ranked 33rd in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, once again confirming Durham's place among the world's top 50 institutions at which to study English.

A new report warns that the UK’s creative industries are at risk because arts education is being neglected.

This LGBTQ History Month, we're highlighting the work of Dr Joan Lubin, an assistant professor of modern and contemporary literature in our Department of English Studies.

Researchers from our Institute for Medical Humanities have taken our innovative ReaderBank project to the Jaipur Literature Festival in Rajasthan, India.

A huge congratulations to our brilliant scholars who have successfully earned their PhDs in English Literature between July and December 2024! Your dedication, perseverance, and passion for literary studies have led to ground-breaking research that will inspire generations to come.

Members of the Department of English Studies at Durham University made significant contributions to the field of literary studies throughout 2024. These recent works span a wide range of topics, from early modern science, Romantic-era repertory theatre, Victorian childhood, and digital humanities, reflecting the department’s ongoing commitment to innovation and scholarly excellence.