Photo of Professor Sarah Peverley

Professor Sarah Peverley BA, PGCHE, PhD, FRHistS

Professor of English Literature English

About

Personal Statement

Sarah Peverley is a medievalist, cultural historian, broadcaster, and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Thinker. She teaches Medieval and Renaissance Literature on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across English and History at Liverpool. Her research focuses on literature produced during The Wars of the Roses, on medieval manuscripts and early books, and on mermaids in literature and art. In addition to publishing on Medieval and Tudor Historical Writing, Early English Drama, Anglo-Scottish Relations, Arthurian Literature, and Medieval Scribes, Sarah has been awarded fellowships and grants from The Leverhulme Trust, the AHRC and The British Academy.

She regularly works with the media, speaks at public festivals and heritage events, and consults for organisations like Guinness World Records. She has written, presented or appeared in over 80 TV, radio and press features, and acted as consultant on the medieval content of a further 15 media and print projects, including documentary series, films and children’s books.

Sarah’s contributions to public life and learning have attracted several awards, especially in relation to her work with ‘The Liverpool Players’, a group of student-actors specialising in making early drama and literature accessible to young children and adults.

She is also a member of various professional bodies, learned societies, and research networks, serving as Vice-President of the Medieval Chronicle Society, Editorial Advisory Board Member for Liverpool University Press, Senior Editor at The Literary Encyclopedia, Editorial Advisory Board Member for The Medieval Chronicle Journal, and Editorial Committee Member for Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies series. In 2019 Sarah was elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Her online Academic Support and Feedback hours are Mondays 4pm (online) and Fridays 1pm (in person or online).

Prizes or Honours

  • Fellow (Royal Historical Society, 2019)
  • Celebrating Success Award: Civic Contribution (2014)
  • BBC Radio 3 and AHRC New Generation Thinker (BBC Radio 3 and AHRC, 2013)
  • Celebrating Success Award; Shortlisted for Enhancing University Life (2013)
  • PRACTICE Award (2013)
  • Award from The Friends of the University (2013)
  • Award from 21st Century Centre of Excellence (Keio University, 2006)

Funded Fellowships

  • Leverhulme Research Fellow (Leverhulme Trust, 2016)
  • AHRC Early Career Fellowship (Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), 2011)
  • British Academy Grant (British Academy, 2005 - 2006)