From PhD to publication: Shakespeare and happiness

The Pymble Institute is celebrating the launch of Pymble staff member, Dr Kathleen French’s recently published book, Shakespeare and Happiness. As a long-standing member of the College staff and English Department, there are many who would like to join the celebration and recognise Kathy’s work – all are welcome! 

Shakespeare and Happiness is a study of happiness in the early modern period with specific reference to some of Shakespeare’s plays. It discusses the search for happiness in the late romantic comedies The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It and Twelfth Night, the loss of happiness in the problem comedy Measure for Measure, the tragedies Hamlet and Othello and the tragi-comedy The Winter’s Tale. It takes a feminist approach by foregrounding the important role of women in showing the right way to live and achieve happiness and situates discussions of the loss of happiness in the current context of the #MeToo movement. Dr Kathy French’s book is the first to consider happiness by approaching it from the perspective of research conducted by positive psychologists. In an interdisciplinary approach that combines methodologies from literature, psychology, philosophy, religion and history, Kathy’s book emphasises the richness and complexity of Shakespeare’s exploration of the nature of happiness. 

The launch will take place on 12 October 2022 at Pymble Ladies’ College in Conde Library and it includes a Q&A with Kathy to explore her journey from PhD to publication. As Kathy prepares to bring a second book to life from her PhD, there is much to learn from her writing process and methods of organising her research.

RSVP: Click here to register your interest in attending

There is no charge for this event.