Dr. Simon Dickie

Biography

Simon Dickie is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Toronto, specializing in the study of literature from the eighteenth century. His research interests encompass book history, restoration literature, and the complexities of the novel, particularly as they relate to early-modern comic literature. He has published extensively, including the book 'Cruelty Laughter: Forgotten Comic Literature Unsentimental Eighteenth Century' (University of Chicago Press, 2011), which highlights comedic narratives from a period often overlooked in literary studies. Dickie's work also delves into themes of religion and blasphemy between 1660-1800, focusing on figures like Henry Fielding. He has contributed to various academic publications such as the 'Oxford Handbook of Henry Fielding' and the 'Oxford History of the Novel in English,' making significant contributions to the field's understanding of humor in literature and the thematic explorations of gender and sexuality within the works of eighteenth-century authors. His current research investigates cultural intersections involving sport, sacred things, and the societal implications of blasphemy in the eighteenth century.

Research Interests