Dr. Elizabeth Effinger

Biography

Elizabeth Effinger is a Professor at the University of New Brunswick, contributing significantly to the fields of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature, particularly focusing on Romantic poetry. Her research delves into the intricate interconnections between literature, philosophy, and science, as well as literary theory related to human-animal studies, the Gothic tradition, and the Anthropocene. Her scholarly work, both published and in progress, encompasses a wide range of topics, including the exploration of queer bodies in Romanticism and the relationship between late eighteenth-century German philosophy and British Romantic Literature. Effinger is currently completing a SSHRC-funded book project that critically examines Romantic-period philosophers and artists who engaged with disciplines intricately linked to nonhuman studies. This work argues against conventional humanistic approaches, suggesting instead that Romantic thought challenges definitions of humanity. Additionally, she is working on a new SSHRC-supported book project that investigates how emergent sciences and technologies during the long Romantic period have impacted notions of human exceptionality, as well as editing a volume on William Blake and the Gothic. Her research has been featured in various academic publications, including the European Romantic Review and Romantic Circles, underscoring her active role in the scholarly community as a member of advisory boards for both the Association of College and University Teachers of English (ACCUTE) and the North American Society for the Study of Romanticism (NASSR).

Research Interests