Joshua Essaka

Joshua Essaka is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Notre Dame's School of Humanities. His research specializes in Romantic-era and Victorian British Literature, Disability Studies, and Myth/Folklore. He holds fellowships with the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Nanovic Institute, and the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values at Notre Dame.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Birmingham (1995); M.A. and B.A., University of Oxford (1995, 1991)

His research explores intersections of disability, folklore, and literary tradition. Notable works include Physical Disability in British Romantic Literature (2020) and The Romantics and the May Day Tradition (2007), shortlisted for the Katherine Briggs Award. He has pioneered interdisciplinary approaches linking disability studies with historical literary analysis.

• Awards: Katherine Briggs Award shortlist (2008), multiple institutional fellowships

Essaka's work bridges cultural history and literary criticism, emphasizing marginalized narratives in 18th/19th century texts. His current projects include a book on disability in Romantic-era theater.