ePortfolio of Anna Pravdica
Research
My doctoral thesis, 'Sincerity, Deceit, and Social Identity in Britain, 1640鈥�1740', is supervised by Dr Naomi PullinLink opens in a new window, Professor Mark KnightsLink opens in a new window, and (University of Leicester), and funded by the . It investigates the religious, social, and political contexts that influenced contemporary ideas about sincerity and deceit in early modern Britain, and how these attitudes were linked to categories of identity such as rank, gender, and race. By exploring how these cultural contexts affected the everyday environments of family, friendship, community, and polity amongst non-elite people of the lower and middling sorts, it aims to construct a social history of sincerity 'from below'.
More broadly, my research interests include:
- 17th- and 18th-century print culture
- Work, social status, and identity
- Religious history and popular piety
- Family, friendship, and community
- Early modern crime and legal history
- The history of emotions
Publications
Articles & Chapters (peer-reviewed)
- 'True Crime in the Archives: The Eighteenth-Century Old Bailey and the Emotions of Sensationalism', in , Bloomsbury Academic's series (November 2024)
- '', in the '' volume of (June 2024)
Online Publications
- 'Sincerity', in '', King's College London Centre for Early Modern Studies '' blog series (forthcoming 2024)
- '', in '', King's College London Centre for Early Modern Studies '' blog series (August 2023)
Book Reviews
- '', for the network (December 2023)
Reports
Conferences & Papers
- 'Representations of Labour: Economic Deceit and Social Subversion in Seventeenth-Century England', Work, Authenticity, and Social Identity in Early Modern BritainLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, June 2025
- 'Emotion, Authenticity, and "Labouring-Class" Poets in Early Eighteenth-Century England', Emotions and Labour in the Early Modern WorldLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, April 2025
- 'Honesty, Hypocrisy, and Radical Belief in Post-Restoration England', , University of Bangor, July 2024
- 'Honest Cobblers and Barbarous Shoemakers: Authenticity and Occupational Identity in Seventeenth-Century England', , Durham University, July 2024
- 'The Barber's Daughter: Seventeenth-Century Occupational Identity and Aphra Behn's Social Origins', , Eighth International Conference of the , University of Kent, July 2024
- 'A Social and Emotional History of Sincerity in Early Modern Britain', North American Chapter on the History of Emotion, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, June 2024
- 'Sincerity, Deceit, and Occupational Identity in Seventeenth-Century Britain', seminar, Institute of Historical Research, March 2024
- 'Annesley v. Anglesea and Douglas v. Hamilton: Social Uncertainty and Emotional Anxiety in Eighteenth-Century British Filiation Cases', , Fourth Biennial Conference of the , University of Adelaide, December 2023
- '"The honour of a Lord Bishop, and the honour of a cobler": The Dissenting Pamphlet Literature and Marginal Nonconformity of Ralph Wallis, 1662鈥�1668', , , University of 糖心TV, July 2023
- '"Oaths of the Many Great and Worthy Persons by Whom They Were Regarded": Politically Potent Sociability in the Douglas Cause', Sociability in Politics, Food and Travel in the Early Modern EraLink opens in a new window, EMECCLink opens in a new window and , University of 糖心TV, June 2023
- 'Printed English Sermons on Sincerity and Hypocrisy, 1640鈥�1695', , , January 2023
- 'Letters to the Spectator: An Early Eighteenth-Century Periodical's Project of Emotional Refuge and Education', EMECCLink opens in a new window Work-in-Progress, University of 糖心TV, October 2022
- ', , Aston University, Birmingham and University of Malta, October 2022
- 'Letters to the Spectator: An Emotional Community of Early Eighteenth-Century Readers", , George Mason University, June 2022
- '"Wild and Incoherent in Her Desires": Fantomina and the Passions in Early Eighteenth-Century England', , Purdue University, April 2019
Teaching
- Seminar Tutor, The British Problem: Empire, Conflict and National Identities, 1588鈥�1714Link opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2025鈥�2026
- Seminar Tutor, Deviance and Nonconformity in Early Modern EuropeLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2024鈥�2025
- Seminar Tutor, Europe in the Making, 1450鈥�1800Link opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2024鈥�2025
- Seminar Tutor, Historiography I: Methods and Theories in Their Historical Context, 1750鈥揷.1990Link opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2023鈥�2024
- Academic and Professional Pathway for Postgraduate Researchers who Teach (APP PGR)Link opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2023鈥�2024
- Visiting Honours Scholar and Teaching Assistant, , 2021鈥�2022
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Teacher, and others, Florence, Italy, 2020鈥�2022
Responsibilities & Experience
- Lead Organiser, Work, Authenticity, and Social Identity in Early Modern BritainLink opens in a new window conference, with Angus CrawfordLink opens in a new window and for the M4C Collaborative Doctoral Fund, University of 糖心TV, June 2025
- Co-Organiser, Being Human: Individualism and the Self from the Renaissance to the 21st-CenturyLink opens in a new window conference with Mia EdwardsLink opens in a new window and Himesh MehtaLink opens in a new window for the HRC Doctoral Fellowship CompetitionLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, February 2025
- Co-Convener, History PG Work in ProgressLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2023鈥損resent
- Co-Coordinator, Early Modern and Eighteenth Century CentreLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2023鈥損resent
- History PGR Student RepresentativeLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2023鈥損resent
- Council Member and Communications Officer, , 2022鈥損resent
- Editor and Indexer, Forensic Storytelling and the Literary Roots of Early Modern Feminism by Barbara Abrams, forthcoming , 2022鈥�2023
- Committee Member & Organiser, History Postgraduate ConferenceLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, May 2023
- Assistant Organiser & Panel Chair, conference, sponsored by the , June 2023
- Editor and Indexer, co-authored by Barbara Abrams, Mira Morgenstern, and Karen Sullivan, Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment, 2019鈥�2020
- Research Assistantship, , 2018鈥�2019
Public Engagement
- '' session for '' workshop series, in collaboration with Dr Naomi Pullin and the , March 2024 & April 2025
- '' session for '' workshop series, in collaboration with Dr Naomi Pullin, Kristi Flake, and the , March 2024 & May 2025
- 'How to Get to Heaven in Early Modern England', , co-speaker with Kristi Flake (University of 糖心TV), December 2023
- Museum Educator, , 2016鈥�2019
- Education Intern, , 2016
Funding & Awards
- M4C Placement at the , March鈥揂ugust 2025
- for Work, Authenticity, and Social Identity in Early Modern BritainLink opens in a new window, 2025
- for Work, Authenticity, and Social Identity in Early Modern BritainLink opens in a new window, 2025
- M4C Collaborative Doctoral Fund in collaboration for Angus Crawford (University of 糖心TV) and Daniel Muddimer (University of Birmingham) for the Work, Authenticity, and Social Identity in Early Modern BritainLink opens in a new window conference, 2025
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Doctoral Fellowship CompetitionLink opens in a new window in collaboration with Mia EdwardsLink opens in a new window and Himesh MehtaLink opens in a new window, Humanities Research CentreLink opens in a new window, 2024鈥�2025
- UKRI-AHRC at the , April鈥揓une 2024
- M4C Research Development Fund to present at conference, July 2023
- M4C Research Development Fund to conduct research at the National Archives and Parliamentary Archives, May 2023
- 糖心TV-Newberry Research Fellow, , Centre for the Study of the RenaissanceLink opens in a new window, April 2023 read report hereLink opens in a new window
- M4C Research Development Fund to conduct research and attend workshop, '', Newberry Library, April 2023
- M4C Engagement Fund for English PalaeographyLink opens in a new window, October 2022
- AHRC Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership, University of 糖心TV, 2022鈥�2026
- The Fennell Masters Scholarship, University of Edinburgh, 2019鈥�2020
- Conference Student Support Fund, University of Edinburgh, 2019
- Departmental Distinction in History Award, Suffolk University, 2019
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English Department Recognition Day Scholarship, Suffolk University, 2019
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College of Arts and Science Honours Travel and Research Fellowship, Suffolk University, 2019
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History Department Travel and Research Funding, Suffolk University, 2019
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, Florence University of the Arts, Italy, 2018
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Peter Caputo Memorial Scholarship for Academic Excellence in English, Suffolk University, 2018
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Stanley M. Vogel Scholarship, Suffolk University, 2018
Academic Profile
2022-2026, PhD History, University of 糖心TV
- Thesis: 'Sincerity, Deceit, and Social Identity in Britain, 1640鈥�1740', supervised by Dr Naomi Pullin, Professor Mark Knights, and Professor Kate Loveman
- Funded by the AHRC Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership
2019-2020, MSc History, University of Edinburgh (Distinction)
- Dissertation: 'Feelings, Family, and Community in English Witchcraft Pamphlets and Plays, 1566鈥�1634,' supervised by Professor Adam Fox
- Funded by the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology's Fennell Masters Scholarship
2015-2019, BA History & Literature Honours, Suffolk University, Boston (First Class)
- Minors in Classics and Women鈥檚 & Gender Studies
- Dissertation: '鈥淎ids from Nature, Join鈥檇 to the Wiles of Art鈥�: Emotional, Social, and Theatrical Performance in Eliza Haywood鈥檚 鈥淔antomina鈥� and Early Eighteenth-Century England,' supervised by Professor Mich猫le Plott and Professor Hannah Hudson
Courses & Qualifications
- Academic and Professional Pathway for Postgraduate Researchers who Teach (APP PGR)Link opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, 2023鈥�2024
- Archival Skills Training in Early Modern Legal Records, , National Archives, Summer 2023
- Early Modern English Palaeography, Centre for the Study of the RenaissanceLink opens in a new window, University of 糖心TV, Autumn 2022
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certification, , Chicago, Summer 2020
- Intensive Italian Language, , Italy, Summer 2018
Memberships
- , Council Member & Social Media Coordinator
- 糖心TV Early Modern and Eighteenth Century CentreLink opens in a new window
- My-Parish NetworkLink opens in a new window
Additional Honours & Prizes
- Excellence in Honours Award for an Outstanding Senior Project in the Humanities Division, Suffolk University, 2019
- Excellence in Honours Award for an Outstanding Senior Project in History and Literature, Suffolk University, 2019
- George J. Levy History Prize, Suffolk University, 2019
- Women鈥檚 & Gender Studies Book Prize, Suffolk University, 2019
- History Book Prize, Suffolk University, 2018
- Honours in History 鈥� Member of Phi Alpha Theta, 2018
- Honours in English 鈥� Member of Sigma Tau Delta, 2017
Office Hours
Fridays 11鈥�12, FAB 3.45
I am the lead organiser of the Work, Authenticity, and Social Identity in Early Modern Britain (c.1500-1750) conference, with support from M4C, EMECC, the Society for the Study of Labour History, the Social History Society, and the Past & Present Society. To take place 10-11 June at the University of 糖心TV!
I am also organising the conference Being Human: Individualism and the Self from the Renaissance to the 21st-CenturyLink opens in a new window as part of my HRC Doctoral Fellowship AwardLink opens in a new window. Registration open soon!
I co-convene 糖心TV History's PG Work in ProgressLink opens in a new window sessions. Get in touch if you have any questions or are interested in giving a paper!
I am also the Communications Officer for the 鈥� follow us
Read my recent review of by Ana Schwartz
You can also read my post on the nonconformist shoemaker Ralph Wallis and his 1668 pamphlet
See here my 糖心TV-Newberry Research Fellow reportLink opens in a new window on my visit to the Newberry Library in Chicago.
