Nigel Smith

This page reflects a scholar's association with the Folger Institute.

William and Annie S. Paton Foundation Professor of Ancient and Modern Literature and Chair of the Committee for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies at Princeton University. He joined the BPT Steering Committee in 2012 and became chair in 2014. His major works are Andrew Marvell: The Chameleon (2010), Is Milton better than Shakespeare? (2008), the Longman Annotated English Poets edition of Andrew Marvell’s Poems (2003, rev. 2007), Literature and Revolution in England, 1640-1660 (1994) and Perfection Proclaimed: Language and Literature in English Radical Religion 1640-1660 (1989). His interests remain focused on the relationship between early modern literature, politics and religion, and he is currently completing a study of these relations with a European-wide scope.

Scholarly Programs

Speaker, Marriage in Early Modern Political Thought (Forum, 2017-2018)

Panel chair, Political Thought in Times of Crisis, 1640-1660 (Symposium, 2016-2017)

Panel chair, Where Was Political Thought in England, c. 1600–1642? (Symposium, 2013–2014)

Co-director (with Peter Lake), Researching the Archives (Seminar, 2011–2012)

Director, The State and Literary Production in Early Modern Europe (Seminar, 2005–2006)

Co-director (with Leonard Barkan), Rethinking Word and Image: History/Literary History/Art History (Colloquium, 2004–2005)

Co-director (with Leonard Barkan), Language and Visuality in the Renaissance: Aesthetics, Theology, Theatre (Colloquium, 2002–2003)

Service

Steering Committee Chair, Center for the History of British Political Thought

Consortium Representative, Princeton University