Overview
My 'home' historical period is eighteenth-century Britain, where I wrote a thesis on the eighteenth-century royal family; but I can assimilate quickly to other periods and subject areas, spot inconsistencies in arguments or weaknesses in research, and help fill them.
I have collaborated closely with writers on academic projects as well as being brought in by other editors to revive writers' work. I've collaborated on one children's non-fiction project and am interested in branching out into fiction, especially where the author is concerned about historical accuracy.
I'm North-East England born and bred, Oxford-educated (to doctoral level).
My editorial roles have usually faced several ways, combining editing other people with substantial amounts of writing myself. Staff roles on the frontiers of academic research and reference publishing have included research editing for both the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and the History of Parliament, which covers development editing and proofreading with colleagues and external contibutors. I've also proofread for several doctoral students.
I've also freelanced for Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and Oxford English Dictionary. I'm an entertainment and literary researcher and writer, and have contributed to Doctor Who Magazine and associated titles. Other publications include articles in reference books and anthologies on history and television and a book in the Black Archive series of Doctor Who monographs.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Associate Member, History Faculty, University of Oxford
Certifications
- BA in History from University of Oxford
- DPhil in History from University of Oxford
Work experience
Victoria County History of Wiltshire
Wrote and researched history of parliamentary representation and local government of the borough of Chippenham, Wiltshire, using sources at Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham. My work is incorporated into one of the draft texts found at the Wiltshire Victoria County History website.
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Freelance editor, researcher and writer
Principally for Oxford English Dictionary as library research associate, compiling reports on words as found in published historical sources from the sixteenth to the twenty-first centuries, working to in-house editors
Continued association with Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, working especially on amendments to existing articles including new text for published entries
Writer for Doctor Who Magazine and associated titles published by Panini UK Ltd. Image of one article ('Classic Rock') in gallery.
History of Parliament
Wrote, revised and researched sections of The House of Lords 1660-1715 (5 vols, Cambridge UP/History of Parliament Trust, 2016), including biographies and historical surveys, taking over workload of departed research fellow.
Oxford University Press
Writing three chapters for The History of Oxford University Press, volume one, to 1780, ed. Ian Gadd (Oxford, 2013); writing and editing appendices, checking facts, correcting picture identifications and undertaking documentary research for The History of Oxford University Press volume one, to 1780, edited by Ian Gadd, and volume two, 1780-1900, edited by Simon Eliot, both published by Oxford University Press in November 2013
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Ongoing role as consultant editor working on amendments to existing articles, often where the original author was deceased, as well as editing new entries supporting the remaining in-house staff.
Development aspects included revising texts in collaboration or consultation with authors, across all historical periods.
I also wrote new entries for the dictionary including on Sir Charles Monck (1779-1867), the Northumberland landowner, architect and MP who owned Belsay Castle, pictured in my background image above.
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Independent research editor on several academic projects including two titles listed below under books - Abigail Williams's edition of Jonathan Swift's Journal to Stella (where I drafted the biographical appendices and part of the political commentary) and Wilfrid Prest's biography of William Blackstone (where I checked several items of correspondence and legal texts in Oxford and London for Professor Prest, who was based in Australia).
I've also worked with several postgraduate students on tidying up their writing as they complete their theses, both in terms of language and research questions. Potential non sequiturs and gaps in knowledge as well as misleading content can be highlighted and addressed.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Commissioned, edited and wrote articles designed for print and online publication, principally in the eighteenth century but also in periods from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries
Liaised with external advisers recruited from senior academics from universities worldwide
Advised and reassured contributors throughout the research process
Acted as intermediary between contributors and external peer reviewers
First point of contact for publishing staff of project with queries about content of articles in my area of responsibility, before passing them to the contributor if necessary
Retained as part of the research team at two ‘downsizing’ points, October 2002 and October 2003, to become part of the publication team responsible for launching the dictionary in print and online in September 2004
Wrote marketing copy in the run-up to publication in 2004
Co-ordinated the corrections process following publication, and corresponded with members of the public who queried entries in the 2004 edition
Represented the dictionary to the media and the public in interviews and events during the launch programme, around the British Isles at and immediately after publication
Portfolio
Matthew has 4 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Abner V.
Feb, 2023
Joanna M.
Mar, 2022
Clemmie B.
Oct, 2021
Richard S.
Feb, 2021
