Biographical Note

James R. Weiss Ph.D, teaches in The Writing Program at Boston University and in the Department of History at Salem State University. He is the author of The Marquis de Sade’s Veiled Social Criticism: The Depravities of Sodom as the Perversities of France (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2008) as well as “Fortress Forever at the Ready: The Jewish Ethos in the Byzantine Imagination and its Ruthenian Translation” (Greek Orthodox Theological Review/ Fall-Winter 2001) and numerous articles and reviews.
My education has been unusual. When I entered Washington and Lee University in Fall 1984, I was confronted with a unique dilemma. My interest in History had been with me since age seven, yet I was also drawn to literature and languages and the power of prose and poetry. Where was I to turn? Ultimately, I chose to pursue my degree in History since I could indulge in the other two under its aegis. From the Shenandoah Valley, I then proceeded to study the intellectual and theological underpinnings of Tudor and Stuart England at the University of Cincinnati, and though I had found the answers to some questions, I was left with myriad others.
I have concentrated on theological and intellectual issues throughout my undergraduate and graduate years and, thus, was able to be flexible without becoming disoriented. In fact, these pursuits have opened up new vistas which continue to inspire me. Owing to my experiences, I have been able to teach a variety of courses in various disciplines and enjoy sharing knowledge with others.