Oxford Wells Shakespeare Lectures

This series of biennial lectures in honour of Professor Stanley Wells was established in 2008.

It was established jointly by Oxford University Press and the Oxford English Faculty, in recognition of Professor Wells’ contribution to Shakespeare scholarship, both as general editor of the Oxford Shakespeare Series, and, with Gary Taylor, John Jowett and William Montgomery, as co-editor of The Complete Works of Shakespeare and its accompanying volume of commentary, a major landmark in Shakespeare scholarship. In addition Professor Wells has written a wide range of books and studies devoted to Shakespeare and the drama and theatre in the early modern period.

The inaugural Oxford Wells Shakespeare lectures were given by Professor David Scott Kastan, Yale University, on the subject of 'Shakespeare and Religion' in 2008.

Katharine Eisaman Maus, James Branch Cabell Professor of English Literature, University of Virginia, gave the second series on the subject of 'Being and Having in Shakespeare' in 2010.

Lorna Hutson, Berry Professor of English Literature, University of St Andrews, will give the third series on the subject of 'Circumstantial Shakespeare' in 2012. You can view further details in the upcoming events section.