Dissertation Committee (from L to R): Mark A. Noll; David Wayne Thomas; Sara L. Maurer; Chris R. Vanden Bossche
On August 25th I successfully defended my dissertation, “
The Quest for a Novelistic Jesus: Literary Relationships with Jesus in Victorian Realism.”
My defense, which was well attended by members of the department and university, fostered lively discussions about realism, characterization, and nineteenth-century theology. While the committee suggested no revisions for the dissertation, they did offer helpful advice regarding the future book project—or projects—growing out of my research. All agreed that the work will be interesting to many scholars and, as such, suggested pursuing one literarily-focused project on realism and how realist procedures influence Victorian understandings of Jesus. The second project that all agreed will be interesting is a broader, intellectual-history book that examines the changing representations of Jesus from the eighteenth through the nineteenth centuries through a wider variety of literature and artistic works (although still making heavy use of the novel).
Overall, the members of my committee were all very excited about the quality of my research and the final dissertation, which was, in no small part, thanks to their fabulous direction, advice, and encouragement along the way!
Jessica Ann Hughes, Ph.D.
August 2015
