James P. Bednarz

James P. Bednarz is a Professor of English at Long Island University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Columbia College and earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. A respected scholar of Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, Bednarz has made significant contributions to early modern literary studies through his publications, editorial work, and public engagement.

His research focuses on Shakespeare and his contemporaries, including Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John Marston, and John Donne. He is the author of Shakespeare and the Poets’ War (2001), acclaimed as an 'International Book of the Year' by The Times Literary Supplement, and Shakespeare and the Truth of Love (2012), praised for transforming understanding of Shakespeare's work. His scholarship explores literary rivalry, intertextuality, authorship, and the political and religious contexts of Renaissance drama.

His recent publications span topics such as Jonson’s satire of Shakespeare, the performance history of Volpone, the dating of Twelfth Night, and the cultural significance of quotation in early modern literature. These works reflect a deep engagement with textual analysis, historical context, and theatrical performance, particularly within the 'War of the Theaters' and Jacobean literary circles.

• Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Scholarship (LIU)
• Abraham Krasnoff Memorial Award for Excellence in Scholarship (LIU)
• David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching (LIU)
• NEH Shakespeare Fellow
• Beverly Rogers Literary Award Essay (2020)

Bednarz has advised university presses and journals, served on the PMLA advisory committee, and contributed to scholarly organizations such as the Shakespeare Association of America. He has also worked with theater groups like the Red Bull Theater and Theater for a New Audience to enhance public understanding of Shakespeare. Though no specific students are named, his mentorship extends to graduate education and teacher training programs. He has not received external grant funding mentioned in the text, but his fellowships from the Huntington Library underscore sustained research support.

He is actively involved in academic and performance communities, serving as a consultant on Shakespearean productions and as a judge for the North Shore Student Shakespeare Festival. His work bridges the gap between scholarly research and public humanities, demonstrating a commitment to both rigorous criticism and accessible education.