The Careful Infidel: Calvinist Anthropology in the Works of Robert Louis Stevenson
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Theology and Religious Studies
Abstract
This thesis seeks to offer the first comprehensive analysis of Robert Louis Stevenson's Calvinist
imagination. Through a consideration of his corpus as a whole, including his life writings, fiction,
essays and letters, I shall undertake a reading which focuses on the theological dimensions and
functions within his works. By utilising a religious lens to open up aspects hitherto obscured, I shall
endeavour to transgress the divisions conventional critical approaches assume, to argue Stevenson's
engagement with the Calvinist and Scottish Presbyterian tradition constitutes the elusive, unifying,
factor to his works.
My PhD will build upon my current MRes research, which focuses on the literary double within
Stevenson's fiction ("Jekyll and Hyde", "Markheim" and The Master of Ballantrae) and demonstrates
how he engaged with the Calvinist anthropology of self and double predestination, to provide a positive
- redemptive interpretation of the doppelgänger and duality. This represents the culmination of a
sustained study of theology and literature throughout my BA Theology which has enabled me to
identify how theological work can be accomplished through narrative and poetics. A recent module,
'God and Gothic', allowed me to expand this focus to include doctrinal explorations undertaken through
genre. My undergraduate dissertation on the effects of collective consciousness and memory will also
benefit this study. Additionally, I elected to study several undergraduate English modules in language
and stylistics to equip me with critical analytical skills required. My present involvement as a Reviews
Editor in a new journal from the University of Nottingham Humanities department has also enhanced
my familiarity with cross disciplinary efforts. My experience in academia has provided me with the
integrative methodology needed to extend my focus beyond Stevenson's fiction, to his nonfiction, and
means I am ideally placed for an interdisciplinary project of this nature.
imagination. Through a consideration of his corpus as a whole, including his life writings, fiction,
essays and letters, I shall undertake a reading which focuses on the theological dimensions and
functions within his works. By utilising a religious lens to open up aspects hitherto obscured, I shall
endeavour to transgress the divisions conventional critical approaches assume, to argue Stevenson's
engagement with the Calvinist and Scottish Presbyterian tradition constitutes the elusive, unifying,
factor to his works.
My PhD will build upon my current MRes research, which focuses on the literary double within
Stevenson's fiction ("Jekyll and Hyde", "Markheim" and The Master of Ballantrae) and demonstrates
how he engaged with the Calvinist anthropology of self and double predestination, to provide a positive
- redemptive interpretation of the doppelgänger and duality. This represents the culmination of a
sustained study of theology and literature throughout my BA Theology which has enabled me to
identify how theological work can be accomplished through narrative and poetics. A recent module,
'God and Gothic', allowed me to expand this focus to include doctrinal explorations undertaken through
genre. My undergraduate dissertation on the effects of collective consciousness and memory will also
benefit this study. Additionally, I elected to study several undergraduate English modules in language
and stylistics to equip me with critical analytical skills required. My present involvement as a Reviews
Editor in a new journal from the University of Nottingham Humanities department has also enhanced
my familiarity with cross disciplinary efforts. My experience in academia has provided me with the
integrative methodology needed to extend my focus beyond Stevenson's fiction, to his nonfiction, and
means I am ideally placed for an interdisciplinary project of this nature.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alison Milbank (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Kate Garland (Student) |
| Description | Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature |
| Organisation | Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | As part of an employment skills placement with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature (NUCoL) I was responsible for researching the effects and impact of literary tourism and supporting NUCoL in developing their own literary tourism programme of intervention and assistance within the region. This included undertaking a research trip to Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature to explore their literary tourism interventions, evaluating their successes, and delivering my findings and recommendations for NUCoL to consider. These findings ultimately resulted in the development and delivery of a workshop, for small and medium sized enterprises in the region, introducing them to literary tourism and the support available, for which I was responsible for organising and delivering. Activities included: collaborating with the University of Nottingham Business School to jointly host the workshop, writing the European Regional Development Fund bid required to secure £20,000 of funding and finance for the workshop and NUCoLs associated literary tourism activities, securing speakers for the workshop and the venue, organising the itinerary, liaising with local business and institutions to maximise attendance, producing resources, assisting with the set-up and delivery of the content on the day. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NUCoL fully supported my activities through providing open access to their resources, including access to office space, administrative staff, in addition to their own partners and access to their existing network of contacts. |
| Impact | Successful delivery of a literary tourism workshop to local businesses in the area. |
| Start Year | 2018 |