°µÍø³Ô¹Ï

Writing the Writers

It has often been viewed as a minor genre of English literature and has not always met with widespread acclaim, but biofictions remain a popular choice for many people who feel they give us an insight into the lives of some of our favourite authors.

PhD student Patricia Reid has gone much further, examining in detail those biographical novels that choose to include an account of a real author's life rather than rely on imaginary characters, in a bid to understand the value and appeal of these kinds of fictions.

"I focused my research on stories that feature four key authors: Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Rupert Brooke," explains Patricia. "I found that these biofictions still had to capture the common reader, working in much the same way as traditional fiction, with a beginning, middle, and end. However, there was the added joy in recognition of each author within the narratives, and their own fiction was often magnified by the stories."

I’ve read a lot of books over the years and I knew I really liked reading biographical fictions, but wasn’t exactly sure why. My PhD research has delved much deeper into these works, exploring their content and evaluating them as a sub genre of English literature.

Opening the Door

Patricia also believes that biofiction has the power to encourage new readers to explore the authors further, opening the door to works of fiction that may have seemed previously inaccessible.

"It's fair to say that some of the novels of Virginia Woolf and Henry James aren't that easy to enage with," says Patricia. "Biofictions can help by providing context and backgrounds to some of these more challenging works."

As well as enjoying reading biographical fiction, Patricia's interest in these types of stories began during her Master's degree, which she also completed at the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï. "I did a module on biofictions and wanted to take this further with my PhD research. It's been a really rewarding experience digging deeper into this fascinating genre."

Humanities and Heritage

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï School of Humanities and Heritage brings together a range of disciplines – including history, conservation, philosophy, classical studies, English, and creative writing – to offer dynamic approaches to studying human life and culture in the global 21st Century.

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Turning the Page

Patricia decided to undertake her PhD at °µÍø³Ô¹Ï after retiring from her work in education. During her career, she has been the head of a school catering for children with special needs and most recently worked in special needs education at °µÍø³Ô¹Ïshire County Council.

She has been putting her teaching skills to good use when presenting her research at conferences, which have included events in Finland, Belgium, and Iceland. Closer to home, she has shared her work with her peers at °µÍø³Ô¹Ï's annual Postgraduate Research Showcase, where she was awarded first prize for her presentation two years running.

"These conferences are a great way to share your ideas and gain feedback from like-minded researchers and academics," says Patricia. "Even though I've now retired and I'm finishing my PhD, I still want to attend conferences and present my work. There's always a great buzz at these events and everybody is really supportive and interested in your research."

Patricia is also looking to continue her volunteering work at the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï, which she has been doing since commencing her PhD. "I've volunteered at many events and have been a postgraduate rep, welcoming cohorts of students to the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï. Although I won't be able to do this once I've finished, I have been invited back to share my experiences and research with other postgraduate students. 

"I’ve had such a fantastic time at °µÍø³Ô¹Ï that I want to stay involved with the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï for as long as possible. I love the whole world of academia and want to make sure it remains a key part of my life.”