Mary Crane

Mary Crane is the Thomas F. Rattigan Professor of English at Boston College, affiliated with the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Her work focuses on English Renaissance literature (1500-1660), blending intellectual history, history of science, and cognitive literary theory. Key roles include Director of the Institute for the Liberal Arts and editorial contributions to English Literary Renaissance and Alembics: Penn Studies in Literature and Science.

Education: A.B. from Harvard College, Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Research Interests: Specializes in the intersection of Renaissance literature and the 'new science,' exploring how cognitive frameworks shape early modern thought. Major themes include epistemology, embodiment, and interdisciplinary dialogue between literature and science.

Publications: Authored influential books like Shakespeare’s Brain: Reading with Cognitive Theory and Losing Touch with Nature. Over 30 articles span topics from cognitive historicism to the materiality of scholarly texts. Recent work examines spatial imagery in Antony and Cleopatra, privacy in early modern spaces, and scientific metaphors in Marlowe and Donne.

Professional Contributions: Editor for leading journals and anthologies, fostering interdisciplinary scholarship. Awards and honors include her endowed professorship and sustained academic leadership in cognitive literary studies.