Professor William Naphy

Professor William Naphy The University of Aberdeen School of Divinity, History & Philosophy Chair in History work +44 (0)1224 273928 work +44 (0)1224 272800 work fax +44(0)1224 272203 pref w.g.naphy@abdn.ac.uk pref School of Divinity, History and Philosophy,
Crombie Annexe,
Meston Walk,
King's College,
University of Aberdeen,
Old Aberdeen,
AB24 3FX.
Room: 111

---

Biography

Professor Naphy received his doctorate (in Reformation History) from the University of St Andrews in 1993.  He was appointed a lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1993 and, in 1996, at Aberdeen where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1999.  He was awarded a personal chair in 2007.  He is the author of six books with translations into six languages (including an up-coming translation into Bosnian for an NGO raising awareness of homosexuality in Bosnia) as well as numerous edited volumes and articles in scholarly journals .   

He has made frequent appearances in the media (Channel 4; Grampian TV; BBC-Scotland; BBC-Radio 4: Start the Week) as a specialist on the history of witchcraft, plague, and sexuality.  He contributed extensively to the media in the discussions surrounding the Kirk's position on gay ministers.  He is currently historical consultant for Out in the World, a four-part series on the history of sexuality to be broadcast on Radio 3.

He is a leading authority on Calvin's Geneva during the sixteenth century as well as the history of crime and punishment in the early modern period  He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and member of the Sixteenth Century Studies Society. 

During the course of 2009 and events commemorating Calvin's birth in 1509, Professor Naphy participated in the T. V. Moore endowed lecture series at the San Francisco Theological Seminary along with the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi (General Secreary, World Alliance of Reformed Churches).  Professor Naphy also delivered a keynote address at the conference on Calvin and his Influence, 1509-2009 (Geneva, 24-27 May).

^ top

Research Interests

Calvin, Calvinism, Witchcraft, Plague, Geneva, Crime, Sexuality, Gender, Gay Issues

^ top

Current Research

Professor Naphy is currently working on the production of a two-volume study of sexuality, deviance, and criminality in early modern Geneva. The first volume will concentrate on 'unnatural' sexual activity (as defined by the Genevan courts), while the second volume will look at the wider issue of the control and criminalisation of other forms of sexual activity (for example, fornication and adultery).

^ top

Teaching Responsibilities

• HI 1521 Renaissance to Revolutions
• HI 2512 Making Sex: Constructing Men and Women, c. 1750-the present day
• HI 302E/352E Aztec, Incas and Mayas: Empires on the Eve of Apocalypse
• HI 302F/352F Satan, Sorcery & Sabbaths: Witch-Hunting in Early Modern Europe, c. 1450-1700
• HI 4015 Homosexuality in the Greco-Roman World
• HI 5026/5526 Tradition and Culture in Protestant Scoland c. 1560-1650

^ top

External Responsibilities

Professor Naphy is one of the editors for the Manchester University Press series on Early Modern Europe.

^ top

Admin Responsibilities

Since October 2009, he has been the Director of Graduate School for the College of Arts and Social Sciences.

^ top

Publicity Photos

 

^ top

Publications

Contributions to Journals

Articles

• Naphy, WG. (2004). 'La peur de la maladie'. Conflicts actuels: Revue d'etude politique, vol 14, pp. 43-55.
• Naphy, WG. (1998). 'The Price of Liberty: Genevan Security and Defence Spending, 1535-1555'. War in History, vol 5, no. 4, pp. 379-399.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1177/096834459800500401
• Naphy, WG. (1996). 'Francois Bonivard and his Difformes Reformateurs'. Renaissance and Reformation, vol 20, no. 2, pp. 57-80.
• Naphy, WG. (1995). 'Catholic Perceptions of Early French Protestantism: The Heresy Trial of Baudichon de la Maisonneuve on Trial in Lyon, 1534'. French History, vol 9, no. 4, pp. 451-477.

Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings

Chapters

• Naphy, WG. 'Secret Pregnancies & Presumptions of Guilt: Infanticide in early modern Geneva, 1558-1642'. K Comerford, K Maag & A Burnett (eds), in: Festschrift for R. M. Kingdon.
• Naphy, WG. (2014). 'Constructing the “Model” Consistory: Geneva’s Church Court and its Members, 1543-1558'. C Parker (ed.), in: Consistories and Inquisitions.
• Naphy, WG. (2009). 'Geneva II'. H Selderhuis (ed.), in: The Calvin Handbook. Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., Grand Rapids, MI, USA, pp. 44-56.
• Naphy, WG. (2008). 'Calvins zweiter Aufenhalt in Genf'. H Selderhuis (ed.), in: Calvin Handbook. Verlag J.C B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), Tuebingen, Germany, pp. 44-57.
• Naphy, WG. (2007). ''Under-Age' Sexual Activity in Reformation Geneva'. G Rousseau (ed.), in: Children and Sexuality: The Greeks to the Great War. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, United Kingdom, pp. 108-141.
• Naphy, WG. (2006). 'New Sources and New Ideas on the Life and Career of Calvin, 1541-1557'. D Wright, A Lane & J Balserak (eds), in: Calvinus Evangelii Propugnator: Calvin, Champion of the Gospel. Calvin Studies Society, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, pp. 40-53.
• Naphy, WG. (2004). 'Calvin's Geneva'. DK McKim (ed.), in: Cambridge Companion to John Calvin. Cambridge Companions to Religion, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, pp. 25-37.
• Naphy, WG. (2003). 'Reasonable doubt: Defences advanced in early modern sodomy trials in Geneva'. M Mulholland & B Pullan (eds), in: Judicial tribunals in England and Europe, 1200-1700. vol. 1, The Trial in History, vol. 1, Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom, pp. 129-146.
• Naphy, WG. (2002). 'Church and state in Calvin's Geneva'. in: Calvin and the Church: Papers Presented At the 13th Colloquium of the Calvin Studies Society, May 24-26, 2001. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, pp. 13-28.
• Naphy, WG. (2002). 'Sodomy in early modern Geneva: various definitions, diverse verdicts'. T Betteridge (ed.), in: Sodomy & Sexual Deviance in Early Modern Europe. Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom, pp. 94-111.
• Naphy, WG. (2001). 'Genevan Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, c.1535-1560: Balancing on the edge of the Confederacy'. W Kaiser, C Sieber-Lehmann & C Windler (eds), in: Eidgenössische "Grenzfälle" : Mühlhausen und Genf : En marge de la Confédération : Mulhouse et Genève. Schwabe, Switzerland, pp. 189-219.
• Naphy, WG. (2000). 'Calvin and Geneva'. A Pettegree (ed.), in: The Reformation World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, pp. 309-322.
• Naphy, WG. (1997). 'A Magisterially Controlled Fear'. WG Naphy & P Roberts (eds), in: Fear in Early Modern Society. Studies in Early Modern European History, Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom, pp. 28-43.
• Naphy, WG. (1996). 'The Reformation and Evolution of Geneva's Schools'. BA Kumin (ed.), in: Reformations Old and New: Essays on the Socio-Economic Impact of Religious Change c. 1470-1630. St. Andrews studies in Reformation history, Scolar, Aldershot, pp. 185-202.
• Naphy, WG. (1996). 'No History can satisfy everyone: Geneva's Chroniclers and Emerging Religious Identities'. B Gordon (ed.), in: Protestant Identity and History in Reformation Europe: The Medieval Inheritance. vol. 2, St Andrews Studies in Reformation History, Scolar, Aldershot, United Kingdom, pp. 23-38.
• Naphy, WG. (1993). 'Renovation of the Genevan Ministry'. A Pettegree (ed.), in: The Reformation of the Parishes: The Ministry in Town and Country. Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom, pp. 113-132.

Entries for Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

• Naphy, WG. (2006). 'Fear in Early Modern Society'. R Golden, W Behringer, G Henningsen, B Levack, J Sharpe, M Wiesner-Hanks & W Monter (eds), in: Encyclopedia of Witchcraft. vol. 2, ABC-Clio Information Services, Santa Barbara, pp. 354-356.
• Naphy, WG. (2006). 'Plague'. R Golden, W Behringer, G Henningsen, B Levack, WM, J Sharpe & M Wiesner-Hanks (eds), in: Encyclopedia of Witchcraft. vol. 3, ABC-Clio Information Services, Santa Barbara, pp. 903-904.

Books and Reports

Books

• Naphy, WG. (2012). 'Born to be Gay: Historija Homoseksualnosti'. Sarajevski Otvoreni Centar; Queeria Center; Queer Zagreb, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Belgrade.
• Naphy, WG. (2007). 'The Protestant Revolution: From Martin Luther to Martin Luther King Jr'. BBC Books, London, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. (2006). 'Nacido para ser Gay'. translated by Luigi Freda Eslava, Tomo, Mexico City, Mexico.
• Naphy, WG. (2006). 'Born to be Gay: Historia da Homossexualidade'. Edic¸o~es 70, Lisbon.
• Naphy, WG., Spicer, A. (2006). 'La Pesta in Europa'. translated by G. Arganese, Il Mulino, Bologna, Italy.
• Naphy, WG. (2004). 'Born to be Gay: A History of Homosexuality'. Tempus, Stroud.
• Naphy, WG. (2004). 'Sex Crimes: From Renaissance to Enlightenment'. Tempus, Stroud, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. & Spicer, A. (2004). 'Plague: Black Death & Pestilence in Europe'. 3rd edn, The History Press Ltd, Stroud.
• Naphy, WG. & Spicer, A. (2004). 'Czarna Smierc: Historia epidemii z lat 1345-1730'. Pantstwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warsaw, Poland.
• Naphy, WG. (2003). 'Calvin and the Consolidation of the Genevan Reformation: with a new preface'. second edn, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, USA.
• Naphy, WG. (2003). 'Verbotene Leidenschaft: Gesellschaft und Sexualitat von der Renaissance zur Aufklarung'. Magnus Verlag, Essen.
• Naphy, WG., Spicer, A. (2003). 'La Peste noire: Grandes peurs et epidemies 1345-1730'. translated by Arlette Sancery, Editions Autrement, Paris, France.
• Naphy, WG., Spicer, A. (2003). 'Der schwarze Tod: Die Pest in Europa'. translated by Markus Ruttermann, Magnus Verlag, Essen, Germany.
• Naphy, WG. (2002). 'Sex Crimes from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment'. Tempus, Stroud, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. (2002). 'Plagues, Poisons and Potions: Plague-Spreading Conspiracies in the Western Alps c.1530-1640'. Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. & Parish, H. (eds) (2002). 'Religion and Superstition in Reformation Europe'. Studies in Early Modern European History, Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. & Andrew Spicer, A. (2000). 'The Black Death : A History of the Plagues 1345-1730'. Tempus, Stroud, Glos, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. & Roberts, P. (eds) (1997). 'Fear in Early Modern Society'. Studies in Early Modern European History, Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom.
• (1996). 'Documents on the Continental Reformation'. translated by William Glen Naphy, Macmillan Documents in History, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, United Kingdom.
• Naphy, WG. (1994). 'Calvin and the Consolidation of the Genevan Reformation'. Manchester University Press, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Anthologies

• (1996). 'Documents on the Continental Reformation'. translated by William Glen Naphy, Macmillan Documents in History, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, United Kingdom.

^ top

update

‹ back