Professor Dr. Christopher Baswell

Biography

Christopher Baswell is a Professor in the Department of Classics at Columbia University, where he has significantly contributed to the fields of Medieval literature and manuscript studies. His research predominantly focuses on the reception and transformation of classical literature, particularly exploring narratives of empire and dynastic foundation within the vernacular cultures of the European Middle Ages. Notably, his work includes the acclaimed book 'Virgil Medieval England: Figuring Aeneid Twelfth Century Chaucer' published by Cambridge University Press in 1995, which received the Beatrice White Prize from the English Association in 1998. Over the years, Baswell has explored the cultural imagination during the Middle Ages, particularly concerning disability, and has engaged in challenging the dominant narratives established by founding fathers in the context of female foundation narratives. He has held prestigious fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, and other renowned institutions. His editorial contributions include co-editing a medieval volume for the Longman Anthology of British Literature and serving as the General Editor for the series 'Cursor Mundi: Viator Studies of Medieval and Early Modern World'.

Research Interests

Experience