UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD–BRITISH LIBRARY RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP

Letters and Lives: Early Modern Catholic Manuscript Cultures

We offer an exciting opportunity to work on a joint University of Sheffield/
British Library MPhil/PhD project on early modern Catholic manuscript cultures,
supervised by Dr Nicky Hallett, School of English, University of Sheffield and
Dr Frances Harris, Head of Modern (post-1603) Historical Manuscripts at the
British Library. The project will consider the relationships between religious
writing and European literary traditions, and will result in a new critical
study of material and enhanced British Library catalogues.

This is a fully-funded three-year studentship (subject to annual review), with a
UK/EU tuition fee waiver, a maintenance stipend (£13,290 in 2009/10 and rising
incrementally thereafter), and a Research Training Support Grant (£500 per
annum).

The project will focus on manuscripts, life-writing and related material from
the circle of Winefrid Thimelby (1618-90), an Augustinian nun living in exile
in Louvain, a member of the Aston family, prominent Catholics from Tixall in
Shropshire, including Gertrude Thimelby and Constance Fowler, other poets and
writers.

Applicants should have a good first degree in English, History or a related
subject (first class or high IIi) and be familiar with early modern sources,
probably through an MA in early modern literature or cultural studies. They
will join a lively early modern research community, lately further enhanced at
Sheffield by a new AHRC-funded project and two further studentships on ‘Early
Modern Manuscript Poetry: Recovering our Scribal Heritage’, led by Professor
Steven May and Dr Cathy Shrank. The British Library in London houses a unique
collection of manuscripts and early printed books. The successful applicant
will have access to specialist research training at both institutions.

Further particulars are available from mid-September on the University of
Sheffield School of English website: http://www.shef.ac.uk/english/ Enquiries
(after 22 September) should be addressed to Dr Nicky Hallett:
n.a.hallett@sheffield.ac.uk, to whom applications should be sent by Monday 5
October 2009. Interviews will be held in Sheffield on Friday 16 October with
appointment as soon as possible thereafter.