Farah Mendlesohn appointed Professor of Literary History at Anglia Ruskin

Farah Mendlesohn has joined Anglia Ruskin University from Middlesex University as Professor of Literary History and Head of Department for English, Communication, Film and Media.

A cultural historian, she read History at York University and Peace Studies at Bradford University. Having taught on the Creative Writing programme at Middlesex University, Professor Mendlesohn specialises in science fiction and fantasy, for both adults and children.

Her most recent book is The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature, and she is currently working with Mike Levy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout on The Cambridge Introduction to Children's Fantasy. Her best known book is Rhetorics of Fantasy.

Professor Mendlesohn is well known in the science fiction community; she was previously Chair of the Science Fiction Foundation, a UK charity, and President of the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts.

Her strong interest in the visual and digital arts will be exploited as Head of Exhibits for the forthcoming World SF Convention in London in 2014.