Donald Beecher

Donald Beecher is a Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Carleton University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He holds a B.A., M.A. (University of California, Santa Barbara), and a Ph.D. (Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham). His research focuses on Renaissance literature, cognitive approaches to literature, and early English prose fiction. He has translated and edited significant works like Boccaccio’s Decameron and Straparola’s Piacevoli notti, and his critical work explores intersections between literature and fields like medicine, psychology, and cultural studies.

His research interests include the cognitive sciences’ impact on literary production, Renaissance folktale traditions, and medico-literary relationships. He has held prestigious roles such as Distinguished Visiting Professor at UCLA and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bologna. His recent work includes a collection of essays on cognition and Renaissance literature, Adaptive Minds and Imaginative Worlds.

• Education:
  • B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
  • M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Ph.D., Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham
• Awards:
  • Montaigne Prize (2017)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (2003)
• Teaching: Recent courses include studies on Jonsonian comedy, Shakespeare’s problem comedies, and Milton’s intellectual tradition.

Beecher’s publications span edited Renaissance texts, critical essays, and collaborative projects with scholars like Massimo Ciavolella. His work bridges historical analysis with modern cognitive theories, offering fresh perspectives on Renaissance literary practices.