Restoration and 18th Century

Our Restoration and eighteenth-century area group offers courses and independent work in the novel, drama and the theater, poetry, periodical literature, satire, and prose.  We offer particular strengths in genre studies (the novel, drama, satire), historicism, cultural studies, gender and women’s writing, race and African-British writing, authorship and textuality, the history of science, sexuality studies, and the global eighteenth century.  Core faculty include Vincent Carretta, Laura Rosenthal, and Tita Chico.  We are also fortunate to have colleagues specializing in the seventeenth century—Marshall Grossman and Jerry Passanante—as well as colleagues in Romanticism—Neil Fraistat and Orrin Wang—who have made vital contributions to MA and PhD projects in eighteenth-century studies.  Ralph Bauer, as well as Vincent Carretta, opens up our area to transatlantic studies.  We also benefit from strong colleagues in our department and the college who study gender, sexuality, race, history, art history, and theater.

One of the most important journals in eighteenth-century studies is housed at the University of Maryland (and at the University of Illinois). The Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation is edited by Professor Tita Chico. Published quarterly, ECTI fosters theoretical and interpretive research on all aspects of Western culture, 1660-1800, and takes special interest in essays that apply innovative contemporary methodologies to the study of eighteenth-century literature, history, science, fine arts, and popular culture. Advanced graduate students specializing in the field of eighteenth-century studies at the University of Maryland have the opportunity to learn about academic publishing by working as editorial assistants for the journal.   

We are fortunate to be located in an area with considerable resources for primary research. The Folger Shakespeare Library and the Library of Congress have significant holdings in 18^th-century literature and culture. Additionally, the Folger Institute (at the Folger Shakespeare Library) regularly holds seminars and workshops of interest to scholars working in eighteenth-century studies.  Graduate students can take Folger seminars, as well as courses with local consortium schools, for credit.  The eighteenth-century reading group, which meets regularly throughout the year, provides the opportunity for faculty and students to exchange work and share ideas on a particular project.  Sometimes we blog about these discussions with a wider community of eighteenth-century scholars here.  We regularly invite guest speakers to present their current work.  Recent guests have included Joseph Roach, Robert Markley, Lyndon Dominique, and Srinivas Aravamuden (scheduled for 08-09).