Kirstie Blair is a British academic and literary scholar specializing in Victorian literature, particularly poetry, religion, and the medical humanities. She is a Professor of English at the University of Strathclyde.
Career and Research
Blair completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge. Her academic career has been primarily focused on the study of 19th-century British literature. She currently holds the position of Professor of English at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.Her research interests are diverse and include:
- Victorian poetry and poetics
- The intersections of literature and religion in the Victorian period
- Medical humanities, exploring themes of the body, health, and illness in Victorian texts
- Classical reception, particularly the influence of Latin and Greek classics on Victorian writers
- Editorial practices and the curation of Victorian literary works
Blair has been actively involved in the academic community, having served as President of the British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS), a leading organization for scholars of Victorian culture.
Selected Publications
Blair is the author of several acclaimed monographs and numerous articles in her field. Her major publications include:- ''Victorian Poetry, Latin and the Classics: The Other Virgil'' (Oxford University Press, 2020) – This work investigates the complex ways in which Victorian poets engaged with and reinterpreted classical Latin poetry, especially Virgil.
- ''Form and Faith in Victorian Poetry and Aesthetics'' (Oxford University Press, 2013) – This book explores how Victorian poets utilized various poetic forms and aesthetic strategies to articulate, question, and grapple with religious faith.
- ''Victorian Poetry and the Culture of the Bible'' (Oxford University Press, 2006) – This study examines the pervasive influence of biblical language, narratives, and cultural significance on Victorian poetic expression.
She has also co-edited significant scholarly collections, including:
- ''A Handbook of Victorian Poetry'' (co-edited with Beth Palmer, Oxford University Press, 2017)
- ''Poetry of the 1890s'' (co-edited with Mike Persson, Edinburgh University Press, 2021)
Her scholarly contributions are recognized for their rigorous analysis and their insights into the cultural, intellectual, and religious landscapes of Victorian Britain.