Early Modern English Literature: Text & Transmission

Taught with the British Library offering the unique opportunity to study early modern literary works (including Shakespeare) in light of recent critical approaches and as material artefacts (print and manuscript). Ideal foundation for doctoral work or for careers in the arts, education, curatorship or broadcasting.

This MA programme reflects an innovative and exciting partnership between the Department of English at King's and the British Library.

Its focus on the transmission of key early modern literary texts makes it unlike any other programme of its kind. Transmission is understood both as the circulation of literary texts in manuscript and print and their reception. Students will therefore learn to read early modern handwriting, to transcribe neglected literary manuscripts and rare printed texts and to edit them for the modern reader.

By focusing on transmission, this MA programme will also make students aware of the impact of the materiality of the text and of the material conditions of its (re)production on its interpretation. The specific process whereby a literary text reaches its readers or its audience is always central to its interpretation.

The core module taught at the British Library is specifically designed to teach students how to search collections of early modern manuscripts and rare books held in major research libraries worldwide and how to identify the agents involved in their production, transmission and preservation in libraries and private collections.