Peter Coviello

Peter Coviello is a Professor and Head of the Department of English at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His scholarly work bridges American literature, queer theory, and religious studies, examining intersections of sexuality, devotion, and secularism. He holds editorial roles for key texts like Herman Melville’s Billy Budd and Walt Whitman’s Memoranda During the War. Coviello’s research has been recognized with awards such as the 2020 John Whitmer Historical Association Book Prize (finalist) and a Lambda Literary Award (2013 finalist).

Education & Roles: After 16 years at Bowdoin College (including department chair roles), he joined UIC in 2014. His recent books include Is There God After Prince? (2023) and Vineland Reread (2020).

Research Interests: Focus on 19th- and 20th-century American literature, queer studies, literary theory, and the history of sexuality. Ongoing projects include After Ahab: Tyranny in the Wake of the Age of Revolutions, under contract with the University of Chicago Press.

Awards & Fellowships: 2017 member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. His work blends academic rigor with public-facing writing for outlets like Raritan, Frieze, and Los Angeles Review of Books.