Overview
Prof Davis is an expert in Anglo-German relations, and has produced three monographs to date on this fascinating subject. The first looks at the German Zollverin of 1848-66, which studies the attitude taken by Free Trade Britain towards the German states during a period of economic take-off and impending political upheaval. The second takes as its theme "The Great Exhibition of 1851" and investigates the national and international significance of the Exhibition in terms of modernisation. The third monograph weaves together research in a number of areas in order to explain and chart the course of the Victorian interest in Germany in general.
Prof Davis has also edited and published Richard Cobden's German Diaries (2007), which demonstrate the significance of German economic development to Cobden's life and thought as well as the importance of British influence in German industrialisation. He has also collaborated on several conferences and volumes relating to these themes within the framework of the Prince Albert Society.
"Anglo/German relations, including the dynastic links between the German and British royal families, lie at the heart of what I do," says Prof Davis, who is currently working on a fourth monograph entitled The Zollverein, which will cover the emergence, development and significance of that interstate economic organisation.
Research
Davis, John and Morrell, Emily (2008) Grants for history 2009: a guide to funding. 2 London : University of London, Institute of Historical Research. ISBN 1905165412
Davis, John , Winters, Jane and Morrell, Emily, eds. (2007) Grants for history 2008: a guide to funding. 3 London : University of London, Institute of Historical Research. 150p. ISBN 1905165285
Davis, John R. (2007) The Great Exhibition and modernization. 4 In: Buzard, James , Childers, Joseph W. and Gillooly, Eileen, (eds.) Victorian prism: refractions of the Crystal Palace. Charlottesville : University of Virginia Press. pp. 233-249. (Victorian literature and culture series) ISBN 0813926033
Davis, John R (2007) The Great Exhibition and the German States. 5 In: Hoffenberg, Peter and Auerbach, Geoff, (eds.) The Great Exhibition of 1851 - 150th Anniversary. Aldershot, UK : Ashgate. (In Press)
Manz, Stefan , Schulte Beerbuhl, Margrit and Davis, John R., eds. (2007) Migration and transfer from Germany to Britain, 1660-1914. 6 Munich : Saur. 176p. (Prinz-Albert-Forschungen ) ISBN 3598230028
Davis, John, ed. (2007) Richard Cobden's German diaries. 7 Munich, Germany : K.G.Saur Verlag. 115p. (Prinz-Albert-Forschungen/Prince Albert Research Publications) ISBN 359823001x
Davis, John R (2007) The Victorians and Germany. 8 Oxford : Peter Lang. 419p. ISBN 9783039110650
Bosbach, Franz and Davis, John R., eds. (2007) Windsor - Coburg: Geteilter Nachlass - Gemeinsames Erbe = Windsor - Coburg: divided estate - common heritage. 9 Berlin : Saur. 219p. (Prinz-Albert-Studien, no. 25) ISBN 3598214251
Davis, John R. (2006) Albert and the great exhibition of 1851: creating the ceremonial of industry. 10 In: Litzenberger, Caroline and Groth Lyon, Eileen, (eds.) The human tradition in modern Britain. Maryland, U.S. : Rowman and Littlefield Publishers Inc. pp. 95-109. (The Human tradition around the world series) ISBN 0742537358
Davis, John R. , Winters, Jane and Smyth, Emily (2006) Grants for history 2007: a guide to funding. 11 University of London, Institute of Historical Research. 136p. ISBN 1905165188
Davis, John R. , Bowcock, Frances and Dodd, Lindsey (2005) Grants for history 2006: a guide to funding. 12 London : University of London, Institute of Historical Research. ISBN 1905165110
Davis, John R. (2004) Albert and the historians: the historical treatment of Prince Albert. 13 In: Bosbach, Franz and Davis, John R., (eds.) Prinz Albert: ein Wettiner in Groβbritannien/Prince Albert: a Wettin in Britain. Munich, Germany : K.G. Saur. pp. 191-200. (Prinz-Albert-Studien/Prince Albert studies, no. 22) ISBN 3598214227
Davis, John R. (2004) Britain and the European balance of power. 14 In: Williams, Chris, (ed.) A companion to nineteenth-century Britain. Oxford, U.K. : Blackwell Publishing. pp. 34-52. (Blackwell companions to British history) ISBN 063122579X
Davis, John , Winters, Jane and Bowcock, Frances (2004) Grants for history 2005: a guide to funding. 15 University of London, Institute of Historical Research. 295p. ISBN 1871348994
Bosbach, Franz and Davis, John R., eds. (2004) Prinz Albert: ein Wettiner in Grossbritannien = Prince Albert: a Wettin in Britain. 16 Munich : Saur. 201p. ISBN 3598214227
Davis, John and Winters, Jane (2003) Grants for history 2004: a guide to funding. 17 London : University of London, Institute of Historical Research. 287p. ISBN 1871348919
Davis, John , Payne, Annie and Winters, Jane, eds. (2002) Grants for history 2002-2003: a guide to funding. 18 London : University of London, Institute of Historical Research. 288p. ISBN 1871348765
Davis, John R (2002) The International Legacy of the Great Exhibition. 19 In: Bosbach, Franz and Davis, John R, (eds.) Die Weltausstellung von 1851 und ihre Folgen / The Great Exhibition and its legacy. Munich, Germany : K.G. Saur. pp. 337-347. (Prinz-Albert-Studien/Prince Albert studies) ISBN 3598214200
Davis, John R (1999) The Great Exhibition. 20 Stroud, U.K. : Sutton Publishing. 238p. ISBN 0750916141
Davis, John R. (1998) The Bamberg Conference of 1854: a re-evaluation. 21 European History Quarterly, 28(1), pp. 81-107. ISSN (print) 0265-6914
Davis, John R. (1997) Britain and the German Zollverein, 1848-66. 22 Basingstoke, U.K. : Macmillan. 238p. ISBN 0333678281
Davis, John R. (1997) The British Sonderweg: the peculiarities of British free trade, 1845-80. 23 Diplomacy & Statecraft, 8(3), pp. 68-90. ISSN (print) 0959-2296
Areas of expertise