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Timothy Gao is a lecturer at the University of Bristol. His research delves into the intricate relationships between history, ethics, aesthetics, and virtual experiences in nineteenth-century fiction. He authored the monograph 'Virtual Play Victorian Novel,' published by Cambridge University Press in 2021, which examines the historical fascination with artificial realities, highlighting an underexplored aspect of the novel tradition. Gao's work investigates how the combination of referentiality, specificity, and the openly fictional nature of narratives creates unique and individual experiences for readers. He explores the virtuality of novels, including the parasocial bonds readers form with their favorite characters and the nostalgic journeys through imaginary towns. His interests also extend to how these experiences offer rich political, ethical, and aesthetic interpretations, connecting structural elements with contextual features. Gao is particularly focused on the history of the novel form, Victorian science and technology, narrative theory, reader-response criticism, and digital adaptations of Victorian literature, as well as literary representations of the digital.
Department of Physics research themes include Astrophysics, Materials and Devices, Particle Physics, and Quantum and Soft Matter.