Anna Beer

Anna Beer is an established author, who has, over a twenty-year career, published literary biographies of major figures such as John Milton and William Shakespeare. Her academic specialism, the politics and literature of the English Renaissance, has its roots in her fascination with, originally, Sir Walter Ralegh, and then his formidable wife Bess.

Anna is best-known, however, for her feisty, feminist and accessible accounts of female creatives. These include her recent Eve Bites Back: An Alternative History of English Literature, which reveals and celebrates the remarkable lives and powerful work of eight women across five centuries, and her influential Sounds and Sweet Airs: The Forgotten Women of Classical Music (2016). The latter has led to many and various creative collaborations, from live performances to feature films. Ongoing debates around gender and culture ensure that Anna is often invited to discuss her work, whether on radio, television or podcasts.

A long-time Oxford resident, Anna held, until recently, various posts at the University, including Director of the Creative Writing MSt. She is a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow (currently based in Plymouth) and remains a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford. You can find out more about Anna's work and upcoming events on her website.