by Dr. Robert Brian, Provost
In February 2017, Allen received word from Lexington Books, an academic imprint of Rowman & Littlefield, that a manuscript she had proposed earlier would be accepted for review by eminent scholars in her field. This invitation from Lexington to submit her first book-length manuscript was the initial hurdle in the daunting process of publishing a scholarly work. After writing full time through the summer, Allen submitted the manuscript in October 2017. She recently learned that, after receiving high praise from scholarly reviewers, Lexington will publish her book later this year.
The book is a re-working of her doctoral dissertation entitled Flesh, Blood, and Puffed-Up Livers: The Theological, Political, and Social Contexts behind the 1550-51 Eucharistic Debate. In it, Allen examines the contentious 16th-Century dispute between Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and a key leader in the English Reformation, and Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester for the Church of England, on the form and substance of the Eucharist in liturgical practice.
One reviewer observed that Allen’s book presents a, “fresh argument in this theological debate that, once published, will occupy an original niche in Reformation scholarship.” The reviewer also noted Allen’s “great command of the topic, both historically and theologically. Her writing style is accessible to scholars and students alike and will be a welcome addition to any college library.”
The reviewer concluded, “I do not see any major competitors for Dr. Allen’s manuscript – publish this book!”
Allen joined Brewton-Parker faculty in 2015 after completing her Ph.D. at Louisiana State University. She also received high praise for an article recently published in The Anglican and Episcopal History.
Dr. Robert Brian, Provost at Brewton-Parker, shared his excitement for both Allen and her students: “We celebrate this superlative achievement with Dr. Allen. Her students and colleagues alike will continue to benefit from her unique combination of scholarly accomplishment and personality on steroids.”
