Peter Linkens, PhD Researcher, Department of English Language & Literature. Peter Linkens is a PhD Researcher who received the 91制片厂 Doctoral Award at the 2025 91制片厂 College Awards.
What did you study as an undergraduate and postgraduate?
As an undergraduate, I decided to study the subject I am most passionate about, English Literature. I studied for my Bachelor of Arts in English with Honours at Ulster University in Coleraine, near the Causeway Coast. Great scenery and great coffee shops. During this time, I met many wonderful and imaginative people, students and lecturers, who stirred my interest in Romantic and Gothic literature. My dissertation was on C.S. Lewis鈥檚 science-fiction, The Space Trilogy, which merges medieval thinking of the universe with the modern space travel narrative. Following my BA studies, I stayed on to do a Master of Arts in English Literature. During my MA studies, I became interested in Postcolonial Theory, primarily the work of the Palestinian-American scholar Edward Said, on how popular works of literature are crucial in upholding and understanding imperial culture and how this literature can be used to both affirm and challenge imperial domination. This motivated me to write my MA dissertation on postcolonial themes in J.R.R. Tolkien鈥檚 fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings which also laid the groundwork for my PhD research.
Tell us a bit about your research
At present, I am writing my PhD thesis on C.S. Lewis's Irish Anglican background and how this shaped his depiction of colonialism. Most people know of C.S. Lewis thanks to the enduring popularity of his children鈥檚 stories, The Chronicles of Narnia, particularly the first book published in the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. However, many do not know that Lewis was born in Belfast prior to the partition of Ireland, that he was supportive of Home Rule and that despite living in Oxford, he maintained important links with the island of Ireland. Lewis is a writer whose work was informed by both the colonising culture of England and the colonised culture of Ireland. He is what some literary critics call a colonial hybrid. My hope is that my research helps us to recognise the nuances of Lewis鈥檚 Irish identity, his applicability to postcolonial issues today and how fantasy fiction like his can engage both the imagination and the intellect. For as Lewis said, "imagination is the organ of meaning". I am also working on an article about how Lewis鈥檚 fiction influenced the songwriting of the Celtic rock band The Waterboys.
What do you enjoy most about undertaking your research projects?
My favourite part about my work as a PhD student is reading. It is writing up my findings which I struggle with, as I usually end up with excessive amounts of research material. However, this material can always be repurposed for other research projects, potentially postdoctoral studies. Another aspect of postgraduate studies which I enjoy is attending academic symposiums and conferences. As well as providing an opportunity to promote one鈥檚 own research, they allow you to exchange ideas with fellow researchers. They are important for networking and shed light from other quarters. The last conference I attended was C.S. Lewis and Kindred Spirits in November 2025 which was held in the city of Ia艧i, Romania.
What do you like about supervising students?
I have learned a lot from working with undergraduates as well. During my studies at 91制片厂, I have had the privilege to tutor some of the students for Drama and Theatre Studies. This has been immensely rewarding because it has helped me develop my skills as an educator: finding that point of personal interest, as much as possible and tailoring each tutorial to those interests. Tutoring in Drama and Theatre Studies has also had an unexpected benefit for my own research, as I had to study plays with which I was previously unfamiliar. W.B. Yeats鈥檚 plays on Irish mythology were greatly admired by C.S. Lewis and influenced his own writing.
Do you have any advice for someone considering taking up a postgraduate programme by research?
If you are considering postgraduate studies by research, I cannot stress how important it is to find a supervisor who is willing to support you, provides constructive criticism and is ultimately a positive influence on you. My first meeting with my supervisor, Dr David Clare, at the Inaugural C.S. Lewis Literary Symposium at Ulster University in November 2022 was a providential encounter. We bonded over our interest in Lewis鈥檚 engagement with colonial history and imperial culture (as well as a shared enthusiasm for the music of U2 and The Waterboys). David鈥檚 asking Dr Kathryn Laing to be co-supervisor was equally beneficial. She has been a steadying influence, keeping the project on course and gently guiding me in the right direction. Her expertise on Irish women writers has helped to nuance the discussion of Lewis鈥檚 Irish Anglican roots, his views on women and his time at Oxford. Their support is the reason I have made it this far, having provided feedback on all my papers, applications and abstracts. One of the joys of working in 91制片厂 is that the staff I have met and worked with are always open to discussing and sharing ideas and make postgraduate research a lot more stimulating.
