Charles H. Arndt

Charles H. Arndt is an Associate Professor of Russian Studies at Vassar College, specializing in 19th-century Russian literature and religious themes. He joined the institution in 2012 and holds a PhD from Brown University (2004), where his dissertation focused on Dostoevsky’s engagement with Russian intellectuals. His research explores religious wandering in Dostoevsky’s works, sacred geographies in Russian literature and press, and Orthodox Christian influences on fiction. He has published extensively, including a 2024 monograph on wanderer-pilgrims and co-authored articles on literary and cultural history.

Arndt teaches courses such as Elementary Russian, Dostoevsky and Psychology, and Vampires, Monks, and Holy Fools, integrating music through a department band, Listopad. His academic career includes supervising student research projects and contributing to programs like Global Nineteenth-Century Studies. Notable publications analyze religious motifs in works by Dostoevsky, Leskov, and others, emphasizing the intersection of faith, culture, and identity in Russian literary tradition.

Arndt’s work bridges literary analysis with historical and cultural contexts, offering insights into how Russian authors reinterpreted Orthodox heritage. His courses and writings highlight themes of pilgrimage, mythmaking, and the mystical, reflecting his dedication to deepening understanding of Russian intellectual history.