March 06, 2026
Joss Hoffman '28
Student researchers assist with Carla Arnell’s new book
Professor of English and Associate Dean of the Faculty Carla Arnell’s new book, Divine Representations: The Rise of the Mystical Novel in Twentieth Century England, is a decade-long endeavor that studies writers from the first decade of the 1900s who shaped a special sub-genre within England’s realist novel.
A key part of Arnell’s book is her involvement of students in the record-keeping, pre-research, and copyediting processes.
Arnell enlisted the support of 17 Richter Scholars, research assistants, and Fielding Fellows from Lake Forest College over the many years she spent working on her book. These students helped Arnell to compile annotated bibliographies, scout writers who might be a part of the movement they were studying, and map out how the authors were intertwined with each other and the history of the period. One student even helped to copyedit the completed manuscript.
“I’m really proud of how much I was able to collaborate with students and how their own interest kept me engaged with the project,” said Arnell. “Each student is still so vivid in my mind. Each was so distinctive.”
The very first Richter Scholars to work with Arnell on her research included Stephen “Buzz” Beaker ’11 and Paul Henne ’11. Henne is now an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Neuroscience at Lake Forest College.
“Working with Dr. Arnell as a Richter Scholar at Lake Forest College was one of the most formative experiences of my early academic life,” Henne said.
Arnell included every student’s name in the acknowledgments section of the book to thank them for their hard work.
Student researchers acknowledged in the book:
- Stephen “Buzz” Beeaker ’11 (Richter Scholar)
- Paul Henne ’11 (Richter Scholar)
- Lauren Bell ’18 (Richter Scholar)
- Finn Bunta ’18 (Richter Scholar)
- E. Caitlin Brown ’18 (Richter Scholar)
- Kalina Sawyer ’18 (Research Assistant)
- Kendra Fobert ’19 (Richter Scholar)
- Isabel McKenzie ’19 (Richter Scholar)
- Nina Codell ’20 (Research Assistant)
- Aleksandar “Sasha” Markovic ’20 (Richter Scholar)
- Natalie Briggs ’20 (Richter Scholar)
- Caroline Warrick-Schkolnik ’22 (Fielding Fellow)
- Denzel Marufu ’23 (Research Assistant)
- Samuel Bickersteth ’24 (Fielding Fellow and Research Assistant)
- Jack Farrell ’24 (Richter Scholar and Fielding Fellow)
- Cara Goldstone ’25 (Fielding Fellow)
- Elena Vaux ’25 (Fielding Fellow and Research Assistant)
In her book, Arnell brings light to some of the seminal authors of the English mystical novel.
Arnell’s book examines how these authors used the realist novel to pioneer representation of what Arnell calls “intense spiritual experiences.” Her book is divided into chapters, each of which is dedicated to a different author and novel from the era. Her scholarly study interweaves literary criticism with details from the authors’ biographies and Edwardian history. Some of the authors in her book include Arthur Edward Waite, Arthur Machen, and Evelyn Underhill, among others.
In fact, Evelyn Underhill was the reason Arnell was inspired to write her book. Researching Underhill’s work motivated Arnell to go further and expand her knowledge to other writers who were part of the Edwardian “mystical revival.” Along the way, Arnell was also able to teach the authors in her book two years ago through a new English course titled “Psychics, Spiritualists, and Mystics.”
“I hope readers will see the continuing impact these writers have on our world in today’s contemporary spiritual movements,” Arnell said.
Divine Representations: The Rise of the Mystical Novel in Twentieth Century England was published on February 1, 2026, by State University of New York Press.
About the author
Joss Hoffman '28 is a sophomore at Lake Forest College studying English, journalism, and publishing. Hoffman is also on the College's swim team, a member of Delta Gamma Eta Mu, and a Gummere Fellow.