IWL keeps on giving

I first heard about the IWL when my co-supervisor at the University of Sydney, Mark Byron, encouraged me to apply for the 2015 session held in Lisbon. At the time my thesis was at a critical stage: as a mature-age student returning to academia after a dozen years or so hiatus, and after the first few years back, during which my ideas were simply drifting, I found myself in need of self-confidence and motivation. I hadn’t initially conceived of my work as being comparative in nature, nor tending toward world literature, yet as things turned out this is exactly the direction in which my more focused thoughts were heading, and I owe Mark a great deal for having noticed this.

The IWL session was a revelation, an inspiration and a much-needed breath of fresh air. Being surrounded by some of the brightest literary minds from around the world was a stimulating and challenging experience. The seminars led by David Damrosch were the highlight, and I realized how fortunate I was to have attended these – everyone I spoke to at the session wanted to participate in his classes. His juxtaposition of genres, eras and authors from all parts of the globe made for an intensely rich and rewarding experience. Seldom have I experienced a room charged with such energy.

I could expand on other learnings taken from lectures and peer discussions alike, but in the interests of brevity will add that whereas the former remain in my notes, the latter are ongoing in social media spaces, through regular CFPs, notices of publication, and the overall exchange of ideas that makes our community such a supportive and vibrant entity.

In this sense the IWL keeps on giving, allowing its alumni to put forward their own ideas and responses: during the time since my attendance in Lisbon, I have published twice in the Journal of World Literature in the Postcolonial issue (2020) and this year’s special issue, “Literature in and of Pandemic Times”. This second article, by coincidence or otherwise, revisits Lisbon itself, the birthplace and repository of so much art and culture, as well as other stories waiting to be told and retold.

To all those involved with organising and teaching on the IWL sessions, I remain with deep gratitude and appreciation, yours

Nathanael Pree

2015 IWL alumnus, University of Lisbon

Teaching Staff

University of Sydney