A large historic castle with brick walls and multiple chimneys, surrounded by a wide driveway and a green lawn, with visitors walking around and a blue sky overhead.

the phd project

a self-guided independent study project,
with the objective of becoming an expert in the subjects of Shakespearean drama, early modern English history, Renaissance literature, and the history of the city of London

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My Back-Alley PhD

After two master’s programs, a string of teaching jobs that left me still working odd jobs summers and weekends, and lingering student debt, I’ve neither the energy nor the promise of ROI to enter another formal academic program. I sold my soul to corporate. Still, my passion for learning, writing, and critical analysis are what sustain me through days of discussions on product copy and marketing campaigns. The answer? A DIY PhD.

READING LISTS

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London: The Reading List

A reading list on the history of London, its art, and its legends.

Reading List: Shakespeare Plays & Accompanying Materials

a scheduled reading of plays with accompanying readings, lectures, and film viewings

Shakespeare Criticism Reading List

A reading list of Shakespeare criticism.

Historical Fiction: Reading List

A reading list of historical fiction novels about English history.

English History: Reading List

A list of readings covering topics such as The War of the Roses, the English Renaissance, and English history, focused on women from the Plantagenets through to the last Tudor.

ALL POSTS

Kathryn Barber 1/19/26 Kathryn Barber 1/19/26

The Mystery of Lady Margery Barber

The mystery of the allusive “Lady” Margery Stanley: who was she, and why do the records either conflict or not exist altogether?

Kathryn Barber 1/18/26 Kathryn Barber 1/18/26

What You’re Getting Wrong About Anne Boleyn: Rumors, Myths, & The Truth

A whore with six fingers? A treasonous witch? A scheming seductress? Let’s take a look at common rumors and myths about Anne Boleyn and analyze what’s truth and what’s gossip and propaganda.

Kathryn Barber 1/14/26 Kathryn Barber 1/14/26

Progress Report: 2025

Here’s what I read in 2025. The summary? A lot of Anne Boleyn, not enough Shakespeare!

Kathryn Barber 11/30/25 Kathryn Barber 11/30/25

Finding My Family: Part 1

I’m tracking down my ancestors, determined to connect my own story with the Tudors’. Here’s how it started.