Matthew Rowlinson is a Canadian academic and literary scholar, currently a Professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at the University of Western Ontario. His research and teaching focus primarily on Victorian literature, literary theory, aestheticism, and the works of Oscar Wilde.
Academic Career Rowlinson has been a faculty member at the University of Western Ontario for many years, where he contributes to both undergraduate and graduate programs. His scholarship is characterized by a deep engagement with 19th-century British literary culture, often exploring the intersections of poetry, philosophy, and critical theory.
Research Interests Professor Rowlinson's key research areas include:
- Victorian Literature: Particularly 19th-century British poetry and prose, and the broader cultural context of the era.
- Aestheticism: The late 19th-century art movement that emphasized aesthetic values over moral or social themes.
- Oscar Wilde: A significant figure in aestheticism and a recurring subject in Rowlinson's work.
- Literary Theory: The application and historical development of various critical approaches to literature.
Selected Publications Rowlinson has authored and edited several influential works in his field:
- Literary Theory and the Great Age of Criticism, 1865-1950 (2020) – This book examines a pivotal period in the formation of modern literary criticism.
- The Cambridge Companion to Victorian Poetry (co-editor, 2022) – A comprehensive guide to the poets and poetic trends of the Victorian era.
- Drawing Operations: Narrative Theory and Literary Practice (2019) – Explores the relationship between narrative theory and practical literary analysis.
- Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray": A Sourcebook (2017) – Provides critical contexts and analyses for Wilde's famous novel.
His work is recognized for its rigorous scholarship and contributions to the understanding of Victorian literary history and critical theory.