Bob Davidson

Bob Davidson is the Mary Rowell Jackman Professor of Humanities at Victoria College, University of Toronto, and holds a Professorship in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. His expertise spans Modern and Contemporary Hispanic Literatures and Cultures, with a focus on Catalan literature, food studies, urban theory, and hospitality. He directs the Northrop Frye Centre and chairs the Manuscript Review Committee at the University of Toronto Press.

Davidson earned his PhD in Romance Studies from Cornell University. His research explores material culture, olfactory studies, and the interplay of space and narrative. Notable works include Jazz Age Barcelona (2009) and The Hotel: Occupied Space (2018), analyzing cultural history through urban spaces and literary themes.

His current projects include The Scent of Spain: Fragrance, Odour and Culture, examining olfactory dimensions of Spanish modernity. He has received awards such as the XXXIV Premi Josep M. Batista i Roca (2022) and the Victoria University Outstanding Faculty Award (2006–07). His academic leadership includes visiting roles at Johns Hopkins University, Queen Mary University of London, and Green College, UBC.

Davidson’s teaching and supervision span doctoral students in Spanish and Catalan literature, cultural studies, and comparative literature. His interdisciplinary approach bridges literary criticism, urban studies, and sensory history.