Digital Humanities

This accessible introduction to the digital humanities, focusing on literary studies, explains debates and definitions of digital humanities, tracing the field from its origins in Father Roberto Busa’s pioneering work on the texts of Thomas Aquinas through to the challenges and possibilities posed by AI and generative technologies today.

This book offers an accessible introduction to the digital humanities, with a particular focus on literary studies. It explains key debates and definitions of digital humanities, tracing the field from its origins in Father Roberto Busa’s pioneering computational work on the texts of Thomas Aquinas in the 1940s through to the challenges and possibilities posed by artificial intelligence and generative technologies today. Beginning with the question of what work in the digital humanities entails, James O’Sullivan moves through the field’s defining tensions. He introduces computational approaches to text analysis and distant reading before turning to digital literature, examining the arc from early hypertext fiction to contemporary interactive and generative works. The discussion extends into publishing in the digital age, including social media, open access, and digital editions. Throughout, the book confronts the field’s shortcomings, including persistent inequalities of race, gender, and labour. Written for students, researchers, and anyone curious about how computing is reshaping the study of culture, this concise guide will be of particular value to those in literary studies, cultural criticism, and the broader humanities who wish to engage critically with digital tools and methods.