Victoria C. Roskams specializes in literature and music as a reader, researcher, and practitioner. As an academic, Roskams's interests span the long nineteenth century and all sorts of interactions between all of the arts, especially in movements such as Romanticism, aestheticism, and decadence. A long-term obsession has been Oscar Wilde, his disciples, his imitators, and his antagonists. As a creative writer, Roskams is especially interested in uncanny encounters with the arts, strange or queer artists, and haunting afterlives. As a musician, Roskams is primarily interested in the eclectic.
Areas of Expertise
Richard Wagner’s Profound Influence on 19th-Century Art
What was Wagnerism, the trend in late-19th-century music, art, literature, and more, spawned by Richard Wagner’s music dramas?
How Baudelaire Rewired English Poetry
On publication in 1857, Charles Baudelaire's Les fleurs du mal caused a scandal. Its influence spread far beyond France and far beyond the 19th century.
The Short But Magical Life of John Keats
Poet John Keats, in his short life, wrote some of the most beloved poems in the English language.
Why Salome and John the Baptist Obsessed Artists
The Bible story of a daring young woman (Salome) demanding the head of John the Baptist has influenced poets, playwrights, painters, composers, and even dancers.
Why Oscar Wilde Wrote His Famous “De Profundis” from Prison
De Profundis, the letter Oscar Wilde wrote from prison, is one of his most moving works. It is addressed partly to his former lover, partly to his former life.
The Cross-Dressing Marquess Who Made Arthur Conan Doyle Turn Detective
Henry Paget, the fifth Marquess of Anglesey, who loved expensive costumes and jewelry, turned to Arthur Conan Doyle when his jewels mysteriously disappeared.
How German Philosophy Inspired Classical Music
From Ludwig van Beethoven to Richard Wagner, many 19th-century composers were inspired by German philosophical movements, including Romanticism, Idealism, pessimism, and nihilism.
Wordsworth Revolutionized Poetry But His Life Was Equally Interesting
Who was William Wordsworth, and what made his poetry so revolutionary? Read about the life and works of this major Romantic poet.
Why Victorian Readers Traded Ghosts for Grit
This is a guide to Victorian Realism, one of the literary movements most closely associated with the Victorian period.
6 Jane Austen Quotes About Wit, Love, & Literature
Discover some essential quotes by one of English literature's best-loved authors: Jane Austen.
The Grand Tour and How It Shaped English Literature
How did the Grand Tour, the 17th- and 18th-century trend among rich young men for traveling through Europe, change the way that authors in English wrote?
The Enigmatic “Fairy-Tale” King of Bavaria
Who was King Ludwig II, who dwelled in fairytale castles, dreaming of scenes from Richard Wagner's operas?