Richard F. Thomas

Richard F. Thomas is the George Martin Lane Professor of the Classics at Harvard University, where he has taught since 1987, first as Professor of Greek and Latin and since 2010 as the George Martin Lane Professor of the Classics. Educated at the University of Auckland (B.A. 1972; M.A. 1973) and the University of Michigan (Ph.D. 1977), he previously taught at Harvard (1977-84), the University of Cincinnati (1984-86), and Cornell University (1986-87). He has also been a visiting Professor of Latin at the University of Venice (Spring, 1991).

His research spans Latin literature, particularly republican and Augustan poetry and historiography, Hellenistic Greek poetry, intertextuality, reception studies, and translation theory. Notably, he has pioneered the academic study of Bob Dylan's work through his famous Harvard seminar 'Dylan 101,' which gained prominence after Dylan's Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. His scholarship demonstrates how Dylan's work connects to classical traditions, particularly Virgil, Ovid, and Homer.

Thomas's publications reveal a trend toward increasingly interdisciplinary work, bridging classical scholarship with contemporary cultural analysis. His recent focus on Bob Dylan represents a significant contribution to reception studies, demonstrating how ancient poetic techniques and traditions continue to influence modern artistic expression. His work on the Loeb Classical Library and digital humanities initiatives shows his commitment to making classical texts accessible to modern audiences.

• George Martin Lane Professorship (endowed chair)

Thomas has served extensively in academic administration, including as Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director of Graduate Studies, and Department Chair in the Department of the Classics. He is Co-chair of the Seminar on 'Classical Traditions and Receptions' at Harvard's Mahindra Humanities Center. His professional service includes leadership roles in the American Philological Association, the Vergilian Society of America (where he served as Director, Trustee, and President), and as Editor of Harvard Studies in Classical Philology. Since 2001, he has been a Trustee of the Loeb Classical Library.