Randall Fuller

Randall Fuller is the Herman Melville Distinguished Professor of American Literature at the University of Kansas. His academic focus spans nineteenth-century U.S. literature and culture, transcendentalism, science and literature, African American literature, and American studies.

• Books: The Book That Changed America (2017), From Battlefields Rising (2011), The Business of Reflection (2009), Emerson’s Ghosts (2007).
• Essays: Explores Civil War literature, transcendentalist philosophy, and cultural intersections of science and literature.
• Public Humanities: Frequent contributor to Wall Street Journal, Nature, and New York Times on topics like Darwin’s influence on Thoreau, Civil War legacy, and literary analysis.

Research Interests center on the interplay between science and literature in 19th-century America, transcendentalism’s cultural impact, and the Civil War’s role in shaping literary identity. His work also examines African American literature’s historical roots and the evolution of American studies as a discipline.

Recent Articles highlight trends in Civil War-related literature, Darwinian thought’s cultural diffusion, and transcendentalism’s enduring relevance. These publications reflect his expertise in blending historical analysis with literary critique.

Scientific Awards include

• 2014-2015: Guggenheim Fellow
• 2014: NEH Summer Stipend
• 2011: Christian Gauss Book Award
• 2007-08: NEH Research Fellow
• 1999: Richard Beale Davis Award

Advising and Grants focus on graduate research in literature and American studies, with funding from NEH and Phi Beta Kappa. His mentorship extends to literary criticism, historical analysis, and interdisciplinary research.

Contact: randallfuller@ku.edu