Literature for Change

‘This compelling volume shows why literature matters, why literature in other languages matters, and – above all – why research into literature in other languages matters. Ten case studies, from Arabic to German, from medieval to contemporary, reveal the multilayered, multilingual power of literature to change lives and societies – including in the troubled present.’

— Neil Kenny, Senior Research Fellow and Professor of French, University of Oxford, UK

‘Literature for Change is an ambitious, important and timely intervention which makes a compelling case for the ways in which studying literature through a foreign language develops citizens able to navigate the unprecedented challenges of climate change, increasingly isolationist governance, global capitalism and artificial intelligence. A seminal text.’

— Elizabeth Wren-Owens, Reader in Italian and Translation Studies, University of Cardiff, UK

‘Literature for Change dives headlong into the gaping holes of contemporary cultural crises, and bounces back as an impassioned series of manifestoes bridging art and life. The thoughtful sequence of essays democratizes literature’s transformative qualities. Running the gamut from major to minor and even ultra-minor modes of writing, the book’s worldliness induces readers into the uncharted waters of an intellectual trance. Literature unlocks multitudes of empathy, carrying us through and across languages, nations, and genres that are ever expansive and mind-altering.’

— Yasser Elhariry, Associate Professor, Dartmouth College, USA