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OUP to publish first literary history of silence by Kate McLoughlin
Oxford University Press (OUP) is set to publish the first literary history of silence by Kate McLoughlin.
Jack McNichol, acquisition editor for literature at OUP, bought world rights to Silence: A Literary History from Catherine Clarke at Felicity Bryan Associates. OUP will publish in March 2026.
The book "sets out to encompass exalted states of blissful union with the divine and with the natural world, the deep hushes of intimacy, spellbinding silent scenes on stage, encrypted expressions of same-sex love". The synopsis continues: "The great literary epics of inarticulable grief, the game-changing idea of silence within the mind, the failure of words in the face of two world wars, the hilarious awkwardness of some social silences, the echoing absence of lost voices, silences as a powerful form of protest, and much more."
McLoughlin, who is a professor and tutorial fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University, said: "This book is the result of many years’ silent research and reflection. I hope it will spark lots of conversations about silence."
McNichol added: "This is a brilliant and original book, both a literary history of silence and a sweeping account of British literature told through its gaps, pauses, omissions and hesitations. Kate McLoughlin shows us how attending to the silences in literary works uncovers their true depths and enriches our reading experience. We are delighted to be publishing this absorbing and profoundly insightful new work at OUP."
