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Dr Rebecca Bailey

Humanities and Social Science

Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

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My teaching and research interests lie in the early modern period of English literature; in particular, the politics of religion with a special interest in recusancy, maritime and travel literature, cultural geography, the theatre of Caroline England (1625-1642) and textual editing. My monograph 'Staging the Old Faith: Queen Henrietta Maria and the Theatre of Caroline England, 1625-1642' (Manchester University Press, 2009, 2nd edition, 2018) explores Caroline theatre as a space which energetically engages with the explosive religious and political concerns of that cultural moment.

I teach across the English Literature programme at LJMU, with a special focus on early modern literature, for example 4105ENGL 'World, Time and Text', 5102ENGL 'Body, Mind and Soul: Seventeenth-Century Literature and Culture'; 6113ENGL 'Shakespeare'. I enjoy supervising undergraduate dissertations and also offer a module on our foundation programme 3110FNDENG 'Critical Reading and Adaptation'. I supervise students at both Masters and PhD level and welcome enquiries from postgraduates in my areas of research expertise.

Currently, I am working on a modern edition of James Shirley’s 'The Young Admiral' for the AHRC funded 'The Complete Works of James Shirley' (general editors, Eugene Giddens, Teresa Grant and Barbara Ravelhofer, Oxford University Press, 2026). Additionally, I am exploring the largely unknown works of Sir Thomas Salusbury, a poet, dramatist, and masque writer from Lleweni in Denbighshire, North Wales. I have published journal articles on Salusbury in 'Shakespeare Bulletin' (2020), 'Early Modern Literary Studies' (2022) and 'English Literary Renaissance' (2024).

I have contributed critical essays on the Caroline playwright, James Shirley for 'James Shirley and Early Modern Theatre' edited by Barbara Ravelhofer (Routledge, 2016) and 'The Encyclopedia of English Renaissance Literature' (general editors Garret A. Sullivan and Alan Stewart, Blackwell Publishing, 2012). Additionally, I have published articles on the poet and dramatist William Habington, ‘“Staging a Queene Opprest”: William Habington’s Exploration of the Politics of Queenship on the Caroline Stage’, Theatre Journal, 65, 2, (May 2013).

Before taking up a Lectureship in English Literature at Liverpool John Mooores University (2015), I lectured at the University of Gloucestershire, Bath Spa University and Goldsmiths College, University of London. Additionally, I have worked at the BBC as a Broadcast Media Researcher. I studied my BA (Hons) in English Literature at St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford and continued my studies at London University, undertaking an MA in Renaissance Literature at Royal Holloway College and a PhD at Birkbeck College.

Degrees

2003, Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom, PhD
1996, Royal Holloway University of London, United Kingdom, MA: Milton and his Age (Distinction)
1995, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, BA: Hons English Literature

Certifications

2016, Liverpool John Moores University, Mental Health First Aid

Academic appointments

Senior Lecturer in English Literature, English Department, Liverpool John Moores University, 2015 - present
Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Gloucestershire, 2008 - 2015
Visiting Lecturer in English Literature, English Department, Bath Spa University, 2007 - 2008

Postgraduate training

PGCHE, United Kingdom, University of Gloucestershire, 2009 - 2010

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