Centre for Life-Writing Research

Who we are

The Centre for Life-Writing Research, established in 2007, brings together people researching different forms of life-writing. Representing a fascinating range of study at Kings are academics from the departments of English, French, German, Music, American Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature and History; the Literature & Medicine programme and the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies. We also have connections to other research groups including Queer@Kings, the Centre for Late Antique & Medieval Studies, and the Cultural & Creative Industries programme.

We work on all sorts of topics and periods, covering a wide range of genres – biography, autobiography, letters, memoirs, the visual arts especially portraiture, poetry, medical narratives including case histories. What connects us is an interest in the theory, history and practice of life-writing. We also aim to foster interests in life-writing across the King’s community.

In recent years, life-writing has become an exciting point of contact between universities and a more general audience . The Centre is committed to encouraging and expanding such contacts. Please do get in touch with us.

The Directors of the Centre are
Dr Clare Brant
Professor Max Saunders

Steering group from the Department of English
Brian Hurwitz, Neil Vickers, Mark Turner, Clare Pettitt, Jane Darcy

Additional Board
Roderick Beaton (Modern Greek & Byzantine Studies)
Matthew Bell (German & Comparative Literature)
Ian Henderson (Menzies Centre for Australian Studies)
Ludmilla Jordanova (History)
Ralph Parfect (Cultural & Creative Industries)
Shamoon Zamir (American Studies)