Dr Alexandra Lewis
Lecturer
School of Humanities and Social Science
Career Summary
Biography
Alexandra Lewis joined the University of Newcastle in 2019. She arrived from Aberdeen, Scotland, where she was Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing, Director of the Centre for the Novel, and Undergraduate Programme Coordinator of Creative Writing. Alexandra has also taught, supervised, and held research fellowships at the Universities of Cambridge, Goldsmiths College London, School of Advanced Study London, and Warwick.
During her PhD in English Literature at the University of Cambridge, Alexandra held a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust award and Trinity College research scholarship. She was University Medallist at the University of Sydney, where she completed her BA(Hons).
Alexandra has published widely on literature and psychology/medicine; nineteenth-century fiction; and contemporary literature. Recent publications include the Norton Critical Edition of Wuthering Heights (2019) and an edited collection on The Brontës and the Idea of the Human: Science, Ethics, and the Victorian Imagination (Cambridge University Press, 2019). Current projects include a monograph on nineteenth-century trauma, and a short story collection and novel.
Alexandra has been an invited panellist on BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time', ran Aberdeen's headline event for the first UK Being Human Festival of the Humanities (‘Will Self in Conversation with Alexandra Lewis’), and has given talks and workshops at a range of events including Brontë bicentenary lectures in Cairo and Athens and a recent Writing and Wellness Retreat at Haworth. She was co-investigator, alongside Professor Hazel Hutchison, on a Royal Society of Edinburgh cross-institutional multi-disciplinary research grant, ‘Women, Science, Narrative’, and has supervised funded PhDs as part of the Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance, an external international partnership.
She serves on the Advisory Board for the Central Online Victorian Educator (COVE) and on the Executive Committees of the British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS) and the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA).
Alexandra's poetry and fiction appear in Causeway/Cabhsair; The Interpreter's House; Waymaking: An Anthology of Women’s Adventure Writing, Poetry and Art; Victorians: A Journal of Culture and Literature; Axon: Creative Explorations and Southerly.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge - UK
- Bachelor of Arts Honours Class I, University of Sydney
Keywords
- • Australian literature
- • Creative writing
- • Fiction
- • Fin-de-siècle literature
- • History of medicine, psychology, & the emotions
- • Life writing
- • Literature and science 1800 to present
- • Memory studies
- • Neo-Victorian fiction
- • Short fiction
- • The Brontës and George Eliot
- • Trauma narratives, C19th to the present
- • Travel writing
- • Twentieth-century women’s writing
- • Victorian literature and culture
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 360201 | Creative writing (incl. scriptwriting) | 60 |
| 470504 | British and Irish literature | 40 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Humanities and Social Science Australia |
| Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Humanities and Social Science Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (2 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Brontë E, Wuthering Heights: Fifth Norton Critical Edition, W. W. Norton, New York and London, 448 (2019) | ||||
| 2019 |
The Brontës and the Idea of the Human: Science, Ethics, and the Victorian Imagination, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK (2019)
|
Chapter (9 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
Lewis A, 'Being Human: De-Gendering Mental Anxiety; or Hysteria, Hypochondriasis and Traumatic Memory in Charlotte Brontë s Villette', The Brontës and the Idea of the Human: Science, Ethics, and the Victorian Imagination, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK 84-106 (2019) [B1]
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| 2019 |
Lewis A, 'Human Subjects: Reimagining the Brontës for Twenty-First-Century Scholarship', The Brontës and the Idea of the Human: Science, Ethics, and the Victorian Imagination, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK 1-26 (2019) [B1]
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| 2017 | Lewis A, 'The Ethics of Appropriation; Or, the mere spectre of Jane Eyre: Emma Tennant s Thornfield Hall, Jasper Fforde s The Eyre Affair and Gail Jones s Sixty Lights', Charlotte Brontë: Legacies and Afterlives, Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK (2017) | ||||
| 2015 |
Lewis A, 'Stagnation of air and mind: Picturing trauma and miasma in Charlotte Brontë'S Villette', Picturing Women's Health 59-76 (2015)
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| Show 6 more chapters | |||||
Journal article (14 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Lewis A, 'Satisfied With Such a Life', Victorians: A Journal of Culture and Literature, 138 303-315 (2020)
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| 2018 | Lewis A, 'Laughing at Injuries (Isabella's Erasure)', Axon: Creative Explorations, (2018) | ||||
| 2018 | Lewis A, 'This Ocean Sings (2018) | ||||
| 2012 |
Lewis A, 'Women in the Victorian literary marketplace', Women, 23 235-238 (2012)
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| 2011 | Lewis A, 'THE FEELING OF READING Affective experience and Victorian literature', TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, 27-27 (2011) | ||||
| Show 11 more journal articles | |||||
Other (3 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Lewis A, 'Invited respondent, Prof. Gillian Beer, Late Darwin and the Problem of the Human , US National Humanities Center Forum, onthehuman.org (29 June 2010).', (2010) | ||
| 2009 | Lewis A, 'Past versus Present: A Report on the BAVS/NAVSA Conference, Cambridge, UK, 2009', : The British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS) (2009) | ||
| 2009 | Lewis A, 'Past versus Present (Literature Compass: Navigating Literary Studies)', : Literature Compass (2009) |
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 16 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $291,570 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20214 grants / $249,270
The Lighthouse Project$135,000
Funding body: City of Newcastle
| Funding body | City of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Karen Crofts, Alexandra Lewis, Lighthouse Arts, Hunter Writers Centre |
| Scheme | Industry Response Taskforce |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | C2220 - Aust StateTerritoryLocal - Other |
| Category | 2220 |
| UON | N |
My Backyard Friends$50,000
Funding body: Create NSW
| Funding body | Create NSW |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Alexandra Lewis, Karen Crofts, Hunter Writers Centre |
| Scheme | NSW Arts Restart - Writing |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
A Japanese Immersion: Shohoku Study Tour$49,500
Funding body: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia
| Funding body | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Alexandra Lewis, UON Global |
| Scheme | New Colombo Mobility Project |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
Does Creativity Enhance Wellbeing and Brain Health?$14,770
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Helen English (Lead); Dr Caelli Brooker; A/Prof Keri Glastonbury; Dr Alexandra Lewis; Prof Frini Karayanidis; Dr Michelle Kelly; Dr Helena Bezzina; Prof Jane Davidson (UoM); Prof Felicity Baker (UoM) |
| Scheme | Strategic Network and Pilot Project Grants Scheme |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2021 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20201 grants / $5,000
Faculty of Education and Arts New Start Grant$5,000
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Scheme | New Start Grants |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2020 |
| Funding Finish | 2020 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20181 grants / $2,000
Visiting Research Fellowship at UON: University of Aberdeen UK School Research Award$2,000
Funding body: University of Aberdeen
| Funding body | University of Aberdeen |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | Research Award |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2018 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
20171 grants / $1,200
'English: Shared Futures'$1,200
Funding body: University of Aberdeen
| Funding body | University of Aberdeen |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | University English (formerly Council for College and University English): Delegate / Elected Representative |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2017 |
| Funding Finish | 2017 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
20162 grants / $20,000
Royal Society of Edinburgh Arts and Humanities Award$15,000
Funding body: Royal Society of Edinburgh
| Funding body | Royal Society of Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Professor Hazel Hutchison and Dr Alexandra Lewis (Co-Investigators) |
| Scheme | Arts and Humanities Award |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2016 |
| Funding Finish | 2016 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
School Research Awards: Archival Research and Conference Grants$5,000
Funding body: University of Aberdeen
| Funding body | University of Aberdeen |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | School Research Award |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2016 |
| Funding Finish | 2016 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
20121 grants / $0
BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinkers Competition: Finalist$0
Funding body: Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the British Broadcasting Corporation
| Funding body | Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the British Broadcasting Corporation |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | New Generation Thinkers |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2012 |
| Funding Finish | 2012 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
20113 grants / $4,600
Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick: Conference Host Award$2,000
Funding body: Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick
| Funding body | Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | International Conference Host |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2011 |
| Funding Finish | 2011 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
Principal's Excellence Fund Research Awards$1,600
Funding body: University of Aberdeen
| Funding body | University of Aberdeen |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | Principal's Excellence Fund Research Award |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2011 |
| Funding Finish | 2014 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
British Academy$1,000
Funding body: British Academy
| Funding body | British Academy |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | British Academy Overseas Conference Grant Scheme |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2011 |
| Funding Finish | 2011 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
20101 grants / $6,000
Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick: Research Award$6,000
Funding body: Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick
| Funding body | Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | Research Award |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2010 |
| Funding Finish | 2011 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
20062 grants / $3,500
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Grants$2,500
Funding body: Arts and Humanities Research Council
| Funding body | Arts and Humanities Research Council |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | Research and Training Grants |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2006 |
| Funding Finish | 2008 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
North American Victorian Studies Association Travel Grant$1,000
Funding body: North American Victorian Studies Association
| Funding body | North American Victorian Studies Association |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Lewis |
| Scheme | NAVSA Travel Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2006 |
| Funding Finish | 2006 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
| Category | 3IFA |
| UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PhD | Encountering Harriet: Reimagining Newcastle through the Letters, Literature and Landscape of Nineteenth Century Illustrator Harriet Scott | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2021 | PhD | Experiments and Experiences of Narrative Cause and Effect | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2020 | Masters | Voyeurs in the Flames: A Novella and Exegesis | M Philosophy (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2020 | PhD | The Phenomenology of Place in a Postcolonial Text: Imaginings, Development and Identity in the Poetry of Place | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2020 | Masters | Val Silver and the Dragon’s Secret: Normalising Nonbinary Identity in Australian Middle Grade Fantasy Literature | M Philosophy (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2020 | Masters | Imago: A Novel with Exegesis (Contemporary Australian Crime Fiction) | M Philosophy (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2019 | PhD | The Pass: The Life, Death and Afterlife of Caroline Collits | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2018 | PhD | ‘Miles on Miles of Nought’: a Re-interpretation of the Poetry of Emily Dickinson | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2018 | PhD | A Theory of Displacement | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2018 | PhD | Postirony and its Trajectory: Circumventing Postmodernism | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2017 | PhD | Catalysts That Triggered Women's Awakenings in the Writings of Kate Chopin: Gender Perspectives. | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2017 | PhD | "Writing for Children is Usually Purposeful, its Intention Being to Foster in the Child Reader a Positive Apperception of Some Socio-Cultural Values Which, it is Assumed, are Shared by Author and Audience" (Stephens, 3) | PhD (English), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
| Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | PhD | Urban Space and the Theatrical Imagination: The Representation of London in the Mid-Nineteenth-Century Popular Novel (1852-1865) | Literature, University of Aberdeen | Principal Supervisor |
| 2016 | PhD | Wedgewood: A Novel with Exegesis (Creative Writing PhD) | Literature, University of Aberdeen | Co-Supervisor |
| 2014 | PhD | The Non-Event, the Event, and Techniques of Representation in the Novels of Frances Burney | Literature, University of Aberdeen | Co-Supervisor |
Dr Alexandra Lewis
Position
Lecturer
School of Humanities and Social Science
College of Human and Social Futures
Screens, Languages, English and Writing
The Screens, Languages, English and Writing cluster coordinates scholarly collaborations in the areas of Film, Media & Cultural Studies, Modern Languages, and English & Writing.