Dr Thomas Rist

Research Overview

Thomas Rist (BA, PhD) trained at The Shakespeare Institute (Stratford-upon-Avon, University of Birmingham), before taking teaching posts at Peterhouse, Cambridge, The University of Tampere in Finland and the University of Aberdeen.  His continuing research interest is the interaction of Shakespeare's and Renaissance drama with the religio-political transformations of the era.  This has led to topics as seemingly diverse as meditation on the Passion, dramatic purgation, early modern scepticism, magic, grief, and the commemoration of the dead.  In recent years Dr Rist has also turned to poetry, writing on the church monuments of George Herbert and the venerating love of Sir Philip Sidney and later sonneteers.  Dr Rist is increasingly absorbed by early modern memory studies, hauntology and epitaphs.  He welcomes enquiries from potential research students with kindred interests.