Early-modern history of philosophy, religion, cultural studies; cultural and intellectual history in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic literary traditions. Reception of Jewish and Islamic philosophy in medieval and Renaissance Europe. Kabbalah. Travel literature especially concerning North Africa.

Degree in Classics and English, Oxford University. Worked as English teacher in Morocco, 1998-9. Doctorate: 'The Heptaplus of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Biblical Hermeneutics', Warburg Institute, London, 2004.