Department of English : University of Rochester

An exterior view of the front of Morey hall from the Eastman Quad.

Fall at Morey Hall

Headshots of the speakers for this season imposed over an exterior view of Rush Rhees Library.

The Plutzik Reading Series: 60th Anniversary Season

Full Schedule

In Memory of James Longenbach 1959-2022

Beloved teacher and mentor, brilliant poet and scholar

Major & Minor

Pursue a degree or take courses in one of our distinct program tracks.

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Graduate Studies

The National Research Council ranks our English PhD program among the best in the country.

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Research

Our faculty and students participate in numerous individual and collaborative research projects.

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A photograph of Corporal Thomas William Belton, who died in Belgium in World War I at age 25, is placed on the railings surrounding the staging of “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” at the Tower of London. The artistic installation featured 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies, each representing a British or colonial soldier killed during the Great War. In Posthumous Lives: World War I and the Culture of Memory, University of Rochester professor Bette London take a closer look at this and other commemorative activities as a British national practice and pastime. (Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid)

Feature Story

How the Great War altered memory and memorlialization

English Professor Bette London explores the evolution and continued resonance of remembrance rituals in post-World War I Britain in her new book.

Plutzik Reading Series: 60th Anniversary Season

For the 60th anniversary season of the Plutzik Reading Series, we are thrilled to welcome acclaimed author Ruth Franklin as our next speaker.

She will read from her recent works on Wednesday, November 2 at 5pm in the Hawkins-Carlson Room of Rush Rhees Library. Her talk is free and open to the public.

Upcoming Event

We are thrilled to announce the return of our weekly Writer's Lounge! It's hosted every Thursday from 5-7pm in the Humanities Center Lounge.

Come enjoy an informal meeting with fellow students to discuss your work, exchange stories and relax. Pizza and refreshments are provided.

In the News

More News

Did you know?

English department faculty have garnered numerous awards and honors, including from the National Endowment for the Arts, Guggenheim Foundation, Newberry Library, and Modern Language Association, among others.

For 20+ years, Professor Emeritus Russell Peck led the “Theater in England” course, shepherding participants to multiple plays each day over two weeks. Katherine Mannheimer now leads the course.

Blake/An Illustrated Quarterly, a journal devoted to the artist and poet William Blake, is celebrating its 50th year in 2016-17.

126internships and research projects

In the last two years, undergraduates have completed 126 English Department honors theses, local and national internships, and independent research projects.

Alumni in the News

Kali Quinn '03
BA in English

Via Rochester Review: "What’s Your Script?"
Through ‘compassionate creativity,’ theater artist Kali Quinn ’03 finds her own script, and helps others find theirs. Artwork: David Cowles for Rochester Review

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