Principal strands
Transgressive Literatures welcomes projects in its three principal strands: Transgressive Canon, Transgressive Texts and Approaches, and Transgressive Academy.
Transgressive Canon: Rethinking canonical, establishment authors and, where relevant, problematizing past approaches and assumptions. Projects in this strand deconstruct the canon from an “insider” position, one founded upon close attention to canonical texts and their authors. Volumes in this strand work to show both the richness of the material at hand, whilst also allowing for nontraditional and overlooked approaches with which to reconsider and reorient the canon itself.
We seek editors for the following volumes:
- Transgressive Chaucer
- Transgressive Gower
- Transgressive Langland
- Transgressive Arthur
- Transgressive Tristan
- Transgressive Marie de France
- Transgressive Christine de Pizan
- Transgressive Margery Kempe
- Transgressive Readers
- Transgressive Piety
NB. Transgressive Canon (TC) volumes require an overall Introduction (typically produced by the volume editor) summarizing, if briefly, the ways in which a given author, text, or key concept has been understood in scholarship historically. Whilst there is no set structure for TC volumes, appropriate thematic groupings could include:
- Author
- Key Texts
- Reader Reception
- Manuscripts and Material Culture
- Pedagogy (i.e., approaches to teach a given text or author).
We invite applications from scholars who wish to take on the role of editor of any of our TC volumes. Alongside application for listed titles, we welcome pitches for volumes on relevant topics and authors. In both instances, please send a proposal portfolio, as detailed below, to Tyler Cloherty. Tyler is also happy to hear from scholars with queries about the series, TC volumes or the application process.
Please ensure that your proposal portfolio contains the following:
- Title of TC volume to which the proposal relates.
- 500-word statement of interest from the prospective editor: Why would the editor like to take on this particular TC volume? Why they are suited to do so?
- 500-word precis of volume ethos: How does this volume fit into or fill a gap in existing scholarship on its topic? How does the volume innovate and provide a new contribution to its topic? Why this topic, and why now? What are the key issues that need addressing, if we are to (re)consider this subject from an intersectional perspective?
- Prospective editor’s CV.
- Chapter abstracts (max. 250 words) and brief author bios (max. 150 words) for minimally three contributors who have confirmed their interest in publishing their work in the TC volume.
- Potential timeline for the volume, including date of manuscript delivery to the Press. This need not be the finalized timeline, but should be indicative of feasible deadlines for authors and editor(s). Key deadlines may relate to: circulation of a Call for Papers to source contributors; submission of first drafts to the editor; editor’s return of reviewed drafts with feedback to authors; submission of revised drafts to the editor; delivery of final manuscript to the Press.