English Literature (PhD)

Allegra is studying for a PhD in English Literature. Watch her film to hear her talk about the research she's doing into the interwar novels of Charlotte Haldane, why she chose to study at Huddersfield, and how her supervisors have helped instil confidence in her as an academic.

Critical acclaim has greeted a major biography of the poet and novelist Sylvia Plath, written by the American scholar Heather Clark, who is Professor of Contemporary Poetry at the University of Huddersfield.

Titled Red Comet: The Short and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, the newly-published, 1,152-page book has been hailed as the definitive account of the life and work of the Boston-born writer who in 1956 married the English poet Ted Hughes. She suffered from depressive illness and in 1963, after the marriage had broken down, Plath committed suicide while living in London.

The tragedy of her end and controversy over her relationship with Yorkshire-born Hughes – who later became Poet Laureate – has often overshadowed Sylvia Plath’s literary career and accomplishments. Professor Clark has set out to redress the balance.

“I embarked on this book because I thought she had been overly pathologised in biographies, memoirs, TV dramas and so on. Too much attention has been paid to her suicide rather than her writing and literary career. I think she is one of the most important poets of the 20th century."

A book of poems handwritten by their author and specially bound by his son is the latest addition to the University of Huddersfield’s important archive of rare, precious and fascinating editions of the works of Ted Hughes. The collection now has more than 90 items, and is becoming an essential destination for serious scholars and devotees of the life and writings of the late Laureate.

As a poet, I heard of the Huddersfield Literature Festival and the creative writing degrees the University offers, and I wanted to be part of this dynamic community. I’m convinced that this PhD will enhance my own practice, be an asset securing a tutoring position in the area of creative writing and allow me to teach literature. I would definitely recommend this programme to anyone interested in modern and contemporary British, Irish and American poetry as the number of experts in these fields is impressive! Of course, anyone interested in Ted Hughes should join the Ted Hughes Network and be surrounded by passionate scholars.

Julie Irigaray - Literature and Creative Writing PhD Researcher