Dr William G.

Specialising in Early Modern & Medieval Literature, History, Theatre History Studies, and Bespoke Essay Coaching in all listed subjects.

Hi! I’m Will. I am an active historian, university academic, and mentor, with over eight years experience teaching and marking at leading Russell Group universities. From October 2026, I will be a visiting fellow at the Institute for English Studies at the School of Advanced Study, University of London. I am also an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and my teaching has been recognised through the award of Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Whether you are a Sixth Form student seeking to master subject knowledge and study skills for A-Level/IB, working through the challenges of an EPQ, or seeking advice on university admissions, a university student striving to master the art of advanced essay writing, or someone tackling a dissertation or PhD viva, I bring the exact grading standards, research methodologies, and marking insights used at university directly to our sessions, acting as a personal mentor to help you increase your chances of securing higher grades. I strive to build engaging and encouraging professional relationships with all students.

Logistics & Bespoke Packages

• Platform: Online via Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.

• Free 15-Minute Consultation: Offered for prospective students considering ongoing tuition or project support to discuss personal requirements and goals.

• Specialist Academic Packages (EPQ to PhD): Bespoke milestone supervision is also available for BA/MA dissertations, PhD proposals/viva prep, and EPQs, including offline reading, line-by-line editorial feedback, and targeted research guidance (please message me with your project details, word count, and deadline for quotes for tailored packages).

Academic Background & Credentials

I received my AHRC-funded PhD from the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute in 2021, and have previously held teaching and research positions at the universities of Birmingham, Warwick, and Nottingham.

• Published Author: I have published two academic books with Routledge (as lead editor in 2024 and as sole author in 2026) focusing on the early modern dramatist Thomas Middleton, and have had my work on early modern drama, political history, and literature published in numerous academic journals.

• Public Historian: I am currently the academic partner of Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall in Stratford-upon-Avon, where I have worked on public events and exhibition curation. I regularly contribute to the popular magazine History Today, and have appeared on podcasts and at ticketed theatre history and museum events. This has allowed me to foster an approachable and accessible style for translating subjects for a variety of audience types.

Teaching, Marking & Subject Expertise

Having marked and provided detailed feedback on numerous university essays, I have insider knowledge of how marking criteria are applied in practice. I know the importance markers place upon a sharp thesis, rigorous historiography/theory integration, clear structure, and original argumentation, and can help you to apply these skills to your own work.

I provide specialist mentoring across:

• English Literature & History: Medieval, Renaissance, and early modern literature (Chaucer, Shakespeare, and beyond); historical context, historiography, and primary source analysis.

• Theatre Studies: Historical staging conditions, analysis of playtexts, and historical contexts of performance.

• EPQ Supervision & Oxbridge Prep: Personal statement refinement, submitted work auditing, and independent research project guidance.

• Study Skills: Essay structure, prose clarity, literature reviews, referencing, and academic argument development.

My Mentoring Approach

I do not offer rigid, off-the-shelf tutoring with set lesson plans, as I find such an approach often fails to inspire in a one-to-one setting. Instead, I provide outcomes-focused academic mentoring designed to demystify the unwritten rules of higher education.

1. The Socratic Method: I ask targeted, probing questions that challenge you to sharpen your thesis, deepen critical analysis, and move away from purely descriptive writing.

2. Rigorous Feedback: As an experienced writer and editor, I can offer detailed line-by-line feedback on essay structure, primary source handling, referencing, and prose style, equipping you to build skills that last.

3. Enriched Context: I do not simply regurgitate a broad curriculum; I offer tailored guidance on your specific module(s), set text(s), and research topic(s) that pushes your understanding far beyond standard lecture slides or textbooks, understanding texts in their fuller context.

Now accepting students for the upcoming term. Send me a message or request a 15-minute consultation to discuss your goals!