First-Person Plural

Abstract

Yes, it’s true. Not only did we collaborate on a book, but we have also written articles together, co-taught courses and seminars, and, on many occasions, we’ve presented papers and given joint public talks. But it is our collaborative writing and publication of a lengthy book that elicits the raised eyebrows and incredulous chuckles. Although research scientists often work together in teams and publish papers signed by multiple authors as a matter of course, academic collaboration in the humanities, and especially interdisciplinary collaboration resulting in published work, is still viewed by many as sufficiently unusual to merit commentary. And collaborative writing and publication by a married academic couple occurs so seldom that it continues to generate astonishment and wonder.

“You collaborated on a book?” “And you re still married…? My spouse and I could never write together!”

“How did you actually do it? “Did you write separate chapters?” “Why did you want to do this?” “What’s your secret?”