Staff profile

My research explores the world and works of the twelfth century Anglo-Latin author, Lawrence of Durham (d.1154), a monk, Cantor, and eventual Prior of Durham Cathedral. Though he is now little known, Lawrence produced a varied and substantial body of work comprising biblical epic, prosimetrum, and verse dialogue – works which are extant in over twenty manuscripts today. I am primarily interested in situating Lawrence's writings within traditions of classical reception and intellectual history. I am also concerned with the ways in which Lawrence's writings address a range of philosophical topics including attitudes towards love, friendship, aging, and death. My project is funded by a Durham Doctoral Studentship from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and is co-supervised across the departments of English Studies, History, and Archaeology.

Read more about my research and Lawrence's writing on friendship here: International Day of Friendship 2024

I am a Teaching Assistant on the undergraduate module 'Ancient Worlds and English Literature', and the Medieval and Early Modern Student Association (MEMSA) Co-Chair for 2024/5. I am also a member of the research network ‘Hidden Heritage: Multi-disciplinary and Multi-Sector Perspectives on the Norman Chapel, Durham Castle’.

Prior to my PhD, I studied at Durham for both the BA in English Studies (2016-19) and the MA in Medieval and Renaissance Literary Studies (2020-21). My postgraduate research explored the political use of the Christus Victor motif in literature of the later Roman and Carolingian empires, focusing particularly on the depiction of Constantine and Charlemagne, and the depiction of Christ in the Gospel of Nicodemus and Psalm 91. This sparked my interest in the intersection between Christian Latin poetry and the classical epic tradition. In between my respective degrees I worked as a Junior Common Room President for Josephine Butler College (2019-20) and within the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York as a Postgraduate Administrator (2021-22). I am originally from Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

Conference Papers

• 'The Cumin Crisis in Lawrence of Durham’s Dialogi: The Political Pastoral', Leeds International Medieval Congress, Leeds University, July 2024.
• 'Conflict in the Writings of Lawrence of Durham', Climate and Conflict, Hatfield College, University of Durham, January 2024.
• 'Lawrence of Durham's Dialogi: Durham Castle 1141–43', Freshers Lecture, University College, University of Durham, September 2023.
• 'Lawrence of Durham: The Boundaries Between Court and Cloister', Status, Rank, or Office?: Social Boundaries in England c. 900 – 1200, St John's College, University of Durham, July 2023.