A scholarly edition of the letters of the Scottish Romantic poet, Thomas Campbell (1777-1844).
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of English
Abstract
This research will produce the first scholarly edition of the letters of Thomas Campbell, the Scottish
Romantic poet. Campbell has been strangely neglected by recent critics of British Romanticism and is
absent from key twentyfirst century accounts of the period (e.g. Duncan Wu's Romanticism: An
Anthology (2012)). The last full edition of his poems was published in 1907. The only previous edition
of his letters is William Beattie's Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell (1849), which published a
small selection of his correspondence, with texts expurgated according to the conventions of the time.
Yet as the author of the bestselling poem 'Pleasures of Hope' (1799) and holder of a prominent public
office (Rector of Glasgow University), Campbell was a significant figure to his contemporaries. This
project will tackle his neglect by:
Transcribing from original manuscripts, editing and annotating his letters, thus revealing new
information about his life, works, and networks
Writing two introductory chapters that: (i) explore how and why Campbell was forgotten and what
recuperating him will add to current knowledge and understanding of British Romanticism and of
canon formation; (ii) demonstrate how his letters, sent to a wide range of correspondents from
disparate backgrounds, are key to understanding both Campbell's own career and involvement in
wider Romantic period sociability.
This thesis builds on my undergraduate work on biography and literary reputation in the Romantic
period ('Self and the World'), my MA modules 'Textualities' and 'Literary Histories', and MA dissertation,
which will edit and analyse Campbell's letters to Mrs. F.C. Arkwright of Derbyshire. My previous handson
experience working with archival materials from a range of different periods in the Boots Archives
and Chatsworth House and skills acquired at BA and MA in palaeography are directly relevant to and
will facilitate the completion of this project.
Romantic poet. Campbell has been strangely neglected by recent critics of British Romanticism and is
absent from key twentyfirst century accounts of the period (e.g. Duncan Wu's Romanticism: An
Anthology (2012)). The last full edition of his poems was published in 1907. The only previous edition
of his letters is William Beattie's Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell (1849), which published a
small selection of his correspondence, with texts expurgated according to the conventions of the time.
Yet as the author of the bestselling poem 'Pleasures of Hope' (1799) and holder of a prominent public
office (Rector of Glasgow University), Campbell was a significant figure to his contemporaries. This
project will tackle his neglect by:
Transcribing from original manuscripts, editing and annotating his letters, thus revealing new
information about his life, works, and networks
Writing two introductory chapters that: (i) explore how and why Campbell was forgotten and what
recuperating him will add to current knowledge and understanding of British Romanticism and of
canon formation; (ii) demonstrate how his letters, sent to a wide range of correspondents from
disparate backgrounds, are key to understanding both Campbell's own career and involvement in
wider Romantic period sociability.
This thesis builds on my undergraduate work on biography and literary reputation in the Romantic
period ('Self and the World'), my MA modules 'Textualities' and 'Literary Histories', and MA dissertation,
which will edit and analyse Campbell's letters to Mrs. F.C. Arkwright of Derbyshire. My previous handson
experience working with archival materials from a range of different periods in the Boots Archives
and Chatsworth House and skills acquired at BA and MA in palaeography are directly relevant to and
will facilitate the completion of this project.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Lynda Pratt (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Amy Wilcockson (Student) |