Shelf Concerns Claire Allen

In this episode Claire Allen talks to Octavia, a student who recently graduate from the University of Northampton with an excellent degree in English, but who faced many challenges along the way. Octavia talks about the idea of resilience, in particular looking at the support which is available for anyone struggling with their mental health or other difficulties. She also discusses what she learnt in the process of doing her degree and in particular the transferable skills she gained from studying English.

In this episode Claire Allen is joined by Dr Drew Gray to discuss the infamous case of Jack the Ripper. This is a case which has garnered much interest, both in the fields of Literature and History. Tune in to hear how our understanding of the case has changed and developed over time, and continues to do so, as well as how the figure of Jack and his victims have sparked the imaginations of fiction writers and literary scholars. What do we learn from studying this figure? As the podcast explores, there is so much more to discover other than just the ‘who done it’ fascination or the gruesome detail of horrific crimes, but actually a focus on this case, which almost everyone has heard of, can teach us so much more about the society of the time, but also who we are today and how some of the societal issues prevalent in the nineteenth century still have relevance to our contemporary lives.

In the first episode of the new series of Self Concerns Claire Allen (Programme Leader for MA English) is joined by Dr Phillippa Bennett (Programme Leader for BA English) and Dr David Simmons (Programme Leader for BA Film and Screen Studies) as they go head-to-head to discuss their Halloween recommendation,  The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Phillippa and David discuss the role of the monster in both the original text, as well as the many and various adaptations there have been, and why this text continues to be such an important one to teach us about the relationship between the individual and society, both in the Victorian era and now, our humanity, and our behaviours. Tune in to hear why this is the English department's recommended Halloween read, and which of the many adaptations our film expert suggests you check out this autumn.

This time, Rod talks to Jade and Karis, two students finishing their degree, about what they’ve learned – including what a great model Gertrude Stein provides for ways to promote your own genius.  What can celebrity culture tell us about how and why we read books?  Find out here!

In this episode, we explore the legacy of Joyce’s most famous novel – how it was most innovative, why it remains important and what makes it so enjoyable to read.  Claire talks with Rod and Joe about the influence and formidable reputation of the book, but also why there’s nothing to be afraid of in dipping your toes in.

Get into the festive spirt(s) by listening to the latest podcast from the English team at The University of Northampton. In this episode Phillippa Bennett discusses 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. Though this is a text we are all so familiar with, not least because of the many and various adaptations of the text, Phillippa looks at this enduring classic with fresh eyes, to consider the meaning of the Ghosts, what we can learn from the text today, and to explore why this classic tale is worth revisiting this festive season. So here is our recommendation for a good text to snuggle up with on Christmas Eve. Enjoy this Christmas 'Present' from the team!