Dr Andrew Maunder

Introduction

I'm a member of the English Literature group and am also Head of the Department of Humanites. 

My research interests centre on literature of the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, particularly crime and sensation fiction,  theatre (1910-1940) and biography. I've written studies of Victorian writers such as Wilkie Collins, Bram Stoker and Ellen [Mrs Henry] Wood.

Publications

My most recent book is a biography of the children's author Enid Blyton (published by Palgrave/Springer, 2021).  

Other books include British Theatre and the Great War 1914-1919 (Palgrave, (2015), and a student guide to R.C. Sherriff's famous war play Journey's End (Bloomsbury/Methuen; 2016).

I'm currently working on an essay collection on British Theatre and the 1920s and a project on the plays of A.A. Milne.

Redicovering British Theatre Project

Since 2011 I've been leading a performance-based project which revives forgotten plays of the First World War period and after, working with professional actors and directors, schools and local groups.

Productions have included J.M. Barrie's A Well-Remembered Voice (1918), the premiere of Robert Graves' play But it Still Goes On (1929) and a revival of St John Ervine's 1913 play Jane Clegg written at the height of the suffragette campaign. It ran at London's award-winning Finborough Theatre in London in April 2019. The production was a finalist in the OffWestEnd awards 2021. 

Recent projects include the first London production for more than 90 years of Kate O'Brien's 1926 play Distinguished Villa directed by Hugh Fraser (Finborough Theatre, September 2022). The trailer can be viewed here.  

This was followed by a production of three 1-act plays: Gertrude Robins' Makeshifts (1908) and Realities (1911), and Harold Harwood's Honour thy Father (1912). These were also produced at the Finborough Theatre  (August 2023), directed by Melissa Dunne. The production won the 2023 :London Pub Theatres award for Best Acting (Ensemble) and was nominated for Best Revival.

Recent productions include Sidney Howard's 1926 family drama The Silver Cord again at the Finborough Theatre, directed by Joe Harmston (September 2024) and A.A. Milne's 1921 play about literary fraud The Truth About Blayds directed by Olivier-award winner David Gilmore. (September 2025).

Nineteenth century literature and culture, in particular sensation fiction; early twentieth century theatre, particularly First World War entertainment; Enid Blyton; biography.

I currently teach on the department's online MA Literature and Culture.