معرفی
David Damrosch is the Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University since 2009, where he founded the Institute for World Literature. Previously, he served as Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University (1994-2009) and as Assistant/Associate Professor there (1980-1994). His work bridges literary theory, translation studies, and global cultural analysis.
- Current affiliation: Harvard University, Department of Comparative Literature
- Past affiliation: Columbia University, English and Comparative Literature
His research focuses on world literature as transnational cultural exchange, writing systems as tools of cultural memory, and the intersection of biblical and secular literary traditions. He has delivered lectures in over 50 countries, emphasizing how texts evolve through cross-cultural reinterpretation.
His publications span biblical literary theory (1987), world literature definitions (2003), and global literary cartography (2021). Awards include the 2023 Balzan Prize for pioneering work in world literature, 2017 Fellowship in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and multiple honorary professorships in Europe and Asia.
- 2023 Balzan Prize: Recognized for demonstrating how world literature remains vital through continuous transformation
- 2017 Fellow: American Academy of Arts & Sciences
- 2011 Honorary Doctor of Letters: University of Bucharest
As founding director of Harvard’s Institute for World Literature and past ACLA president, he has shaped global literary discourse through editorial work (22 books) and lectureships across five continents. His current project explores writing systems’ role in preserving and transforming cultural knowledge.
