How successful have authors and publishers been in developing the market in boys contemporary fiction and responding to political initiatives to target boys reading?

The proposal will select specific authors writing boys fiction, examine how the themes they address reflect contemporary issues of young masculinities, and the increasing gender split in genres for young adults.

It will examine the changes in the publishing market in this area since 2000 and the influence of literacy initiatives aimed at getting boys to read more on the content and marketing of new fiction.

It will contextualise this within an analysis media coverage of these initiatives and the cross-media context of boys fiction.

While he project will address the effect of the Harry Potter books during this period, it will not use the series as a case study.

The results of the project will potentially be of interest to schools and colleges as well as to the academic study of fiction and publishing.

The proposed supervisory team: Dr Clare Walsh, Professor Alexis Weedon.

Applicants are advised that there is no bursary attached to this studentship, and fees are payable.