Dr. Lena Wahlgren Smith

Biography

Lena Wahlgren-Smith is a historian specializing in Latin literature from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern period, currently serving as a Lecturer at the University of Southampton. She teaches in the Ancient History programme, focusing on modules that cover Greek Myth, the interactions between Rome and the barbarians of Late Antiquity, and Latin language studies. Lina's research interests primarily involve letter-writing practices in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as memorial inscriptions spanning the Middle Ages to the Early Modern era. She is currently developing a database of funerary inscriptions found in southern England and is engaged in a project that examines the social narratives and visual landscape of medieval and Early Modern funerary inscriptions. Her scholarly work also delves into the choices regarding language and identity within these inscriptions, particularly the transition from Latin to English. With a background in classicism acquired during her studies at the University of Göteborg in Sweden, Lena's academic journey has continually explored how personal and institutional narratives shape medieval letter collections.

Research Interests

Experience