Contact Information

Office: 4034 JFSB

Phone: 422-1506

E-mail: leslee_thorne-murphy@byu.edu

Office Hours:
11:00-12:00 Th

Leslee Thorne-Murphy specializes in Victorian literature, especially the tantalizingly long, intricate, mid-century novel. As well as offering courses in Victorian literature, she teaches English 292: Survey of British Literature after 1800, English 251: Introduction to Literature, and English 314: Writing about Literature. In her courses, she takes a historical and cultural approach, looking at how literature shapes and is shaped by its environment.

Professor Thorne-Murphy's research, also, emphasizes the interactions between literature and its culture. Her current work explores how Victorian authors used depictions of women's philanthropy in their literature to reason through and illustrate literature's potential for aiding an ailing society.

In addition to her scholarly work, Professor Thorne-Murphy is the mother of three boys, who ensure that she takes time to laugh and enjoy life. Her husband, John Murphy, is Curator for 20th-century Western and Mormon Americana in BYU's Special Collections Library. Together, they enjoy hiking through the nearby mountains, frequenting bookstores, and feeding any and all ducks.

Leslee Thorne-Murphy has B.A. (1990) and M.A. (1993) degrees from Brigham Young University. Her Ph.D. is from Brandeis University (2001). Her dissertation topic is "'Art's a Service': Women's Philanthropy and the Role of the Author in Mid-Victorian England."

Degrees