About Me
In 1999, I graduated from the University of Warwick with a PhD in a combination of literature and art history. For a decade I worked as an arts journalist (see below), and then in a variety of communications roles for UK universities.
In 2012, I published Lichfield Then & Now with The History Press, a book comprising historic photographs paired with contemporary colour versions of the same views.
I’ve recently completed The Female Rake: Peg Woffington’s Scandalous Life on the Georgian Stage: a biography of an actress who was known for her cross-dressed portrayals of fashionable men. I’ve presented talks about Peg to academics (at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and St Hugh’s College, Oxford) and to general audiences, including one at Bromley House Library in Nottingham.
I’m a Trustee of The Johnson Society (Lichfield) as well being a member of various history societies. In 2021, I was elected to the Royal Historical Society as an Associate Fellow.
My work has been recognised in several competitions. An essay I wrote about Peg’s travesty performances won the Society for Theatre Research’s New Scholar’s Prize in 2020, and The Female Rake was shortlisted for the Tony Lothian Prize (now the Elizabeth Buccleuch Prize) in 2022.
I’m currently working on a book about a group of connoisseurs who shaped the taste of a nation. When I’m not writing, I’m usually serving my feline overlord or at the opera with my husband.
Journalism
I learnt my trade on the arts desk of daily national newspaper, Metro, and have edited two major publications for UK universities: an online magazine for the University of Warwick (Knowledge Centre) and a print magazine for Aston University (Aston in Touch / Aston for Life). In 2020, the latter won a Silver medal in the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, which recognises the best work in educational advancement across the world.
As a volunteer, I have been a member of the editorial committee of the Samuel Johnson Society’s Journal, Transactions, where I have contributed story ideas, written articles and (in 2024) helped with a major redesign of the publication.
Send me a message
Please drop me a line at eponym [at] annetterubery.co.uk. Thank you!