Peter G. Platt

Peter G. Platt is Professor of English and the Ann Whitney Olin Professor at Barnard College, where he has been a faculty member since 1994. He is affiliated with the Department of English and the Medieval and Renaissance Studies program, which he chaired for many years. He served as Chair of the English Department from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2023.

Education:

• D.Phil., Oxford University
• M.A., Middlebury College
• B.A., Yale University

Professor Platt specializes in Shakespeare, Renaissance drama, Renaissance studies, and the history of rhetoric. His research explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, and cultural thought in the early modern period. He has published extensively on Shakespeare’s engagement with paradox, Montaigne, and the concept of the marvelous. His work often examines how Renaissance writers navigated intellectual uncertainty, wonder, and rhetorical complexity.

His recent publications reveal a sustained focus on Shakespeare’s adaptation of philosophical and literary sources, particularly Montaigne’s essays. The thematic threads across his work include intertextuality, humanist thought, and the emotional and cognitive dimensions of literary experience in the Renaissance.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinguished Teaching and Research Honor, Barnard College

Professor Platt has played a significant role in shaping the English and Medieval and Renaissance Studies curricula at Barnard. He has mentored numerous students through advanced seminars and has contributed to the development of critical writing programs. While specific grant details are not mentioned, his editorial projects and publications suggest sustained research support. He has co-edited major scholarly volumes and continues to publish with leading academic presses.

He is actively involved in the academic community through editorial work and leadership in interdisciplinary programs, particularly in Renaissance studies. His ongoing research on Shakespeare and Mourning indicates continued scholarly productivity.