William John Maxwell

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William John Maxwell circa 1915

William John Maxwell (born 1962) is an American literary scholar and professor known for his work on African American literature, modernism, and the Harlem Renaissance. He is a professor of English and African American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.

Early Life and Education

William John Maxwell was born in 1962. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He later obtained his Ph.D. in English from Duke University.

Academic Career

Maxwell began his academic career as an assistant professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later joined the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, where he currently serves as a professor in the Department of English and the Department of African and African American Studies.

Research and Contributions

Maxwell's research primarily focuses on African American literature, modernism, and the Harlem Renaissance. He has published extensively on these topics, contributing significantly to the understanding of African American cultural and literary history.

Notable Works

• New Negro, Old Left: African-American Writing and Communism between the Wars (1999)
• F.B. Eyes: How J. Edgar Hoover's Ghostreaders Framed African American Literature (2015)

Influence and Legacy

Maxwell's work has been influential in the fields of African American studies and literary modernism. His research on the intersection of literature and politics, particularly his exploration of the FBI's surveillance of African American writers, has garnered critical acclaim.

Personal Life

Details about Maxwell's personal life are not widely publicized. He continues to teach and conduct research at Washington University in St. Louis.

Related Pages

• Harlem Renaissance
• African American literature
• Modernism
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Yale University
• Duke University