Colin Burrow

Colin Burrow is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford. He specializes in Renaissance literature, classical influences on English writing, and comparative literature. His research focuses on authors like Spenser, Jonson, Milton, and Shakespeare. He has held roles at the University of Cambridge (1987–2006), including Senior Lecturer and Reader in Renaissance and Comparative Literature. His notable works include editions of Shakespeare’s poems and Ben Jonson’s works, and his recent book Imitating Authors: Plato to Futurity.

Education:

• Undergraduate: Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (1982–1985)
• Graduate Student: New College, Oxford (1985–1987)

His research interests span classical forebears of English literature, Elizabethan literature, and the practice of literary imitation. He has secured significant grants, including a £410,000 AHRC award for the Scriptorium project digitizing Renaissance commonplace books. He contributes regularly to the London Review of Books, reviewing contemporary literature and critiquing satire.

Awards and Recognition:

• Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)
• Emeritus Fellow, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

Burrow advises the Scriptorium project and previously led initiatives like the HEFCE-funded online Shakespeare resource. His work bridges historical and modern literary analysis, emphasizing the enduring relevance of classical and Renaissance traditions.