Michael Pesenson

Misha

Education

Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Yale University
B.A. in Russian Studies and Biology, University of Pennsylvania

Teaching History

Assistant Professor of Russian, Swarthmore College (2004-present)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Bowdoin College (2001-2004)
Instructor of Russian, Bates College (2002-2003)
Teaching Fellow in Russian, Trinity College (1998-2001)

Courses Taught

All levels of Russian
Old Church Slavonic
Nineteenth Century Russian literature
Fantasy and Realism in Russian literature
St. Petersburg: Mecca of the Arts
St. Petersburg-Leningrad-St. Petersburg: A City of Dreams and Dreamers
The Russian Novel
The Russian Short Story
War and Peace in Russian Literature and Culture
History of Russia to 1881
Twentieth Century Russian literature

Research Interests

Medieval Russian literature and culture
Apocalyptic and utopian themes in Russian literature and culture
War and peace in Russian literature
Silver Age literature and the arts
Eighteenth-century Russian music and opera
Medieval South Slavic literature

Current Research Projects

An article on apocalyptic discourse surrounding the Napoleonic invasion of 1812
An article on apocrypha in the medieval Slavic tradition
A book on the image of the Antichrist in Russian literature and culture
An article on Francesco Araja, Court Composer to the Empress Elizabeth

Hobbies

Music: playing piano and harpsichord
Traveling the world
Hiking
Eating at nice restaurants
Collecting rare books