Overview

This timely monograph explores the critical, yet often overlooked, role of genre in non-traditional authorship attribution studies. Drawing from linguistics, rhetoric, stylistics, forensic linguistics, and computational methods –including large language models (LLMs) – this book argues that genre must be treated as a central variable in any credible attribution analysis. Across domains from Shakespearean drama to courtroom linguistics, the book highlights how failing to control for genre risks undermines both results and credibility. It challenges the extremes of current thinking – whether genre dominates authorship or is eclipsed by it – by examining the vast and complex gray area between these poles. With case studies, critical commentary, and a detailed appendix cataloging over 120 stylistic markers across genres and authors, this work provides a robust resource for scholars, digital humanists, forensic linguists, and anyone invested in the integrity of authorship studies. It also offers an accessible introduction to the promises and pitfalls of LLMs in this evolving field. This volume is essential reading for both practitioners and consumers of attribution research.

Full Product Details

Author:   Joseph Rudman
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781041133995

ISBN 10:   1041133995
Pages:   264
Publication Date:   21 April 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. The Definition and Categorization of Genre 2.1 Genre and Register 2.2 Information Retrieval – Cross Domain – Cross Topic 3. Each Genre has a Defining Style that is Discernable 3.1 Genre Differences in the Same Author 3.2 Genre Cannot be Categorized 4. The Case that Genre is Irrelevant in Non-Traditional Authorship Attribution Studies 5. The Case that Authorship Trumps Genre in Non-Traditional Authorship Attribution Studies – WHITE 6. The Case that Genre Trumps Authorship in Non-Traditional Authorship Attribution Studies – BLACK 7. The Case for Shades of GRAY 8. Can Genre Ever be Mixed in the Experimental Design 8.1 Narration versus Dialogue 9. Can Techniques be Developed so that Genre can be Ignored in the Experimental Design 10. The Necessity of Controlling for Genre in the Experimental Design 11. Intra-Genres in Non-Traditional Authorship Attribution 12. The Legal Profession, Forensic Linguistics, and Genre 12.1 Cross-Genre Attribution in Forensic Linguistics 13. Shakespeare’s Drama as a Case in Point 14. Large Language Models 15. Conclusion

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Author Information

Joseph Rudman currently serves as a Special Faculty Member in the English Department at Carnegie Mellon University.

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