Richard’s main research and teaching interests are in Renaissance literature, Shakespeare studies and critical theory. In particular, his research investigates the politics of interpretation and the relationship between literature and society. Radical Spenser: Pastoral, Politics and the New Aestheticism (EUP 2005) approached these questions by tracing the ethical and political implications of an open-ended ‘pastoral’ logic in Spenser’s writing. Richard is now working on a new book, Shakespeare’s Refusers, looking at figures who negate coercive social participation – that is, who ‘just say no’ to behaviour collectively enforced in the name of enjoyment. In the longer term, he is researching aspects of happiness and utopia in the Renaissance, and singularity in Shakespeare’s Sonnets. He also has other interests in Dylan Thomas and Welsh writing in English.
Research proposals on any of the above areas, and on contemporary adaptations and reimaginings of Shakespeare in literature, culture and film, would be very welcome.
