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.
Education
DPhil English — University of Oxford, 2023
MA English Literary Studies — University of York, 2018
BA English — University of Bristol, 2016
Areas of Expertise
6 Composers Who Changed the Course of Music History
Know your Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven already? Read about some other composers whose lives and works changed the course of music history.
Faust’s Devil’s Bargain That Haunted Writers From Goethe to Mann
Explore how Faust’s pact with the Devil for infinite knowledge turned into a literary cornerstone, influencing major authors like Goethe, Wilde, and Mann.
The Life and Genius of Mary Shelley, the Literary Giant Who Wrote Frankenstein
Discover the life, legend, and literature of one of the Romantic era's greatest authors, Frankenstein creator Mary Shelley.
The Tortured Genius of ETA Hoffmann Who Turned Personal Failure Into Literary Masterpieces
A key figure in Romanticism, ETA Hoffmann is best remembered for his uncanny stories—but he was also a major player in music history.
8 Books Put on Trial for Obscenity and the Reasons They Caused Scandal
What makes a book so controversial that it goes to trial? Here are eight books prosecuted for obscenity and the reasons they caused scandal.
The Turbulent Life of Charles Baudelaire, the Original Decadent Poet
This is the life story of French poetry's celebrated decadent dandy, Charles Baudelaire.
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