R.K.R. Thornton, formerly Professor of English and Head of Department first at Newcastle upon Tyne and then at the University of Birmingham, retired in 2000. He has edited and written on Clare, Gurney and the English 1890s and is currently working on editions of Hopkins's Letters andMiscellaneous Writings.

R.K.R. Thornton's work featured in PN Review comprises one report, one contribution of poetry, three articles, and four reviews, over a period of 24 years.