Matthew Brown

Matthew Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Iowa, with a courtesy appointment in the UI Center for the Book. His research focuses on book culture, readership history, and early American literary studies. He authored *The Pilgrim and the Bee: Reading Rituals and Book Culture in Early New England* (2007), honored by the MLA. Current projects include *The Novel and the Blank*, exploring print shop constraints in colonial America. He leads NEH-funded initiatives like 'Global Book Cultures and the Student Laboratory,' emphasizing transnational book studies and hands-on learning. His work bridges literary analysis with material culture, gender studies, and critical race theory.

His scholarly contributions span articles in *American Literary History*, *American Quarterly*, and *PMLA*. He has presented at institutions like Harvard, Penn, and the Folger Library. Awards include the NEH grants for research and pedagogical projects. Matthew also edits the *Impressions* book series for the UI Press and engages in public scholarship via outlets like *Public Books* and *Common-place*.

Teaching interests include early American literature, editorial theory, and African-American media culture. He co-led the Mellon-funded 'Early American Literature and Material Texts' seminar for graduate students. His research extends to visual culture, secularism, and the intersection of religion with literary studies.