John Shapcott

Phone:
Email:
john.shapcott@btinternet.com
Location:
Role: Honorary Research Fellow

Since my MA in American Literature (distinction) at Keele I have subsequently specialised in the work of Arnold Bennett. During my five years as Chairman of the Arnold Bennett Society I organised the Society’s Annual International Conferences. I am also a member of the Middlebrow Research Network and the Edwardian Culture Network.

  • ‘“I Didn’t Punctuate It”: Locating the Tape and Text of Jack Kerouac’s Visions of Cody and Doctor Sax in a Culture of Spontaneous Improvisation.’, Journal of American Studies, Volume 36, Part 2, pages 231-248  (2002).

  • Series Editor of the following Arnold Bennett new editions with Notes and/or Critical Introductions for the Churnet Valley Press: LEONORA (2005); THE REGENT (2006); THE PRICE OF LOVE (2006); A MAN FROM THE NORTH (2007); THE OLD WIVES’ TALE (2008); THE PRETTY LADY (2009); ARNOLD BENNETT’S UNCOLLECTED SHORT STORIES. 1892-1932 (2010); THE CARD (2011); LORD DOVER & OTHER LOST STORIES (2011) PUNCH AND JUDY (2012).

  • Bibliographic Notes: Arnold Bennett LE SPECTRE. Terre de Brume (2005).

  • Edited the following sets of Conference papers, all published by the Arnold Bennett Society: BENNETT AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES WRITE THE TOWN AND THE CITY (2006); THE GREAT WAR 1914-18 AND AFTER: BENNETT AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES (2007); THE OLD WIVES’ TALE (2008); BENNETT & WELLS: THEIR FRIENDSHP, FICTION & FILMS (2009).

  • Aesthetics for Everyman: Arnold Bennett’s Evening Standard Columns’ in Edited Mary Grover and Erica Brown MIDDLEBROW LITERARY CULTURE. THE BATTLE OF THE BROWS, 1920-1960 (Palgrave Macmillan, November 2011).

  • Numerous articles and reviews for the The Arnold Bennett Society Newsletter; Programme Notes for Covent Garden Opera House; book for stage musical Heaven Sent; Two-volume Archive Catalogue of Arnold Bennett material (with Katey Goodwin) , Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

  • 'The first ever publication of Arnold Bennett's Punch and Judy, with a Critical Commentary on "Arnold Bennett and Silent Cinema" and a Foreword by Margaret Drabble (Churnet Valley Books, Summer 2012). 

    Forthcoming:

  • 'A new critical, illustrated edition of Arnold Bennett's Riceyman Steps.'  

I am currently editing a collection of essays by International scholars for a volume titled An Arnold Bennett Companion: Essays for the Twenty-first Century. Other Bennett publishing projects include transcribing and editing his previously unpublished novel/film scenario The Wedding Dress.  I am also researching a book-length study of Melvyn Bragg's Cumbrian fiction.'