Call for Papers
Special Issue of Nineteenth Century Theatre and Film
Adapting Thackeray

Abstract Deadline: January 19, 2026

Is Thackeray adaptable? William Makepeace Thackeray was one of the titans of the Victorian age whose realistic works and characters satirized and moralized British society. While theatrical and cinematic adaptions of his works pale in comparison to other novelists like Dickens, many throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century reimagined Thackeray and his characters, particularly Becky Sharp, Colonel Newcombe, Barry Lyndon, and Arthur Pendennis. Attempts at adapting Thackeray produced stirring successes and complete failures from authors and dramatists including Dion Boucicault, J.M. Barrie, Langdon Mitchell, and John Brougham. These productions reworked Thackeray while exploring a number of social and cultural issues surrounding gender, empire, performance, and war. 

This special issue is interested in investigating the ways Thackeray has been adapted on the stage and early screen, but also in shining a light on the actors, directors, and performances that brought his works to life.

Topics might include:

• 19th/20th Century Early Film/Theater adaptions of Thackeray
• Thackeray and Empire
• Gender/Queer Thackeray
• Thackeray and Theater
• Transmedia Adaptations
• Thackeray and Performance
• Disability and Thackeray
• Thackeray and Theatre/Film history

Please send paper abstracts of 250 words with short bio (100 words) by January 19, 2026 to guest editors Matthew Skwiat at Matthew.Skwiat@morehouse.edu and Christina Jenat christina.jen@sus.edu. Acceptances will be sent out by February 9th. Final articles are due June 1st 2026 and should be between 5000-8000 words, inclusive of citation.