Victoria C. Roskams specializes in literature and music as a reader, researcher, and practitioner. As an academic, Roskams's interests span the long nineteenth century and all sorts of interactions between all of the arts, especially in movements such as Romanticism, aestheticism, and decadence. A long-term obsession has been Oscar Wilde, his disciples, his imitators, and his antagonists. As a creative writer, Roskams is especially interested in uncanny encounters with the arts, strange or queer artists, and haunting afterlives. As a musician, Roskams is primarily interested in the eclectic.
Education
DPhil English — University of Oxford, 2023
MA English Literary Studies — University of York, 2018
BA English — University of Bristol, 2016
Areas of Expertise
6 Masterpieces by Henry James That Defined Modern Literature
Why is Henry James known as the Master? Discover six of the novelist's greatest works, each laden with psychological complexity and tightly wrought prose.
10 English Words You Didn’t Know Had Celtic Origins
Discover the roots of ten words that came into the English language from the neighboring group of Celtic languages.
The Social Realism of Elizabeth Gaskell Who Went Against Outworn Victorian Values
Once pigeonholed as “Mrs Gaskell,” a representative of outworn Victorian values, Elizabeth Gaskell is a more radical writer than you might expect.
The Life and Work of Thomas Hardy and His Famous Wessex Novels
Beyond the charm of rural Wessex, Thomas Hardy's fiction concealed a modern edge that shocked his contemporaries and secured his legacy.
Why Vampires Conquered the Novel and Beyond
Not just Dracula: there were fictional vampires before Bram Stoker's, and they've only grown in popularity since. Why are we fascinated by these blood-sucking creatures?
The Stormy Romance of Frédéric Chopin and George Sand
The decade-long relationship between the composer Chopin and the author Sand, though unlikely, was a testament to the Romantic belief in the virtues of genius.
Why the Doppelgänger Remains Gothic Literature’s Most Haunting Figure
A recurring figure in Gothic fiction, the doppelgänger or double appears in many forms, but is it benevolent or malevolent?
How Henry James Became the American Giant of English Literature
The life of Henry James, who left America for a cosmopolitan life in Europe before settling in England and contributing multiple masterpieces to its literature.
5 Must-Read Works by ETA Hoffmann
Best remembered for the story that gave us the ballet The Nutcracker, ETA Hoffmann wrote many uncanny, supernatural tales. Here are five of them.
The Fascinating Story of the Gesamtkunstwerk and Its Influence on Modern Art
An ancient Greek ideal with a German name, the Gesamtkunstwerk's influence stretched from Wagner's operas to the foundations of modern art.
13 Important Irish Writers You Need to Know
Discover thirteen writers who hail from Ireland, beyond the ones you may already have heard of.
The True Meaning of Frankenstein and Why the Story Is More Relevant Than Ever
Discover the enduring genius of Mary Shelley's great work of proto-science fiction: Frankenstein.