Benedict S. Robinson

Benedict S. Robinson is Chair and Professor in the English Department at Stony Brook University. He holds a PhD from Columbia University (2001) and a BA from the University of Chicago (1994). His research focuses on early modern literature, particularly the intersections of emotion theory, literary theory, science history, race, and religion. His recent work includes Passion’s Fictions from Shakespeare to Richardson (Oxford UP, 2021) and articles in PMLA, ELH, and Shakespeare Quarterly. He has edited John Webster’s The White Devil (Arden, 2019) and is preparing an Arden edition of Antony and Cleopatra.

Key research interests include the history of affect, early modern scientific thought, and representations of race/religion in Renaissance texts. Current projects explore resentment’s role in shaping modern power structures (1500-1900) and melancholy’s cultural significance. His work frequently bridges literary analysis with interdisciplinary approaches to historical context.

Publications span monographs, critical editions, and over 20 peer-reviewed articles. He has contributed to major scholarly series like Arden Early Modern Drama and Oxford University Press. Recent works demonstrate ongoing engagement with Spenser, Shakespeare, and the intersections between literature and cognitive science.