Ancient Masterpieces: Explore World Literature's Foundations

David Damrosch, the Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University and Director of the Institute for World Literature, has fundamentally transformed the field of world literature studies. After completing his education at Yale University (B.A. 1975, Ph.D. 1980), he developed groundbreaking approaches to studying literature across cultures and time periods. His influential works include "What Is World Literature?" (2003), "The Buried Book" (2007), and "Around the World in 80 Books" (2021), which have reshaped how scholars approach global literary studies. Damrosch's exceptional linguistic abilities, including proficiency in German, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Nahuatl, Old Norse, Akkadian, and biblical Hebrew, enable him to engage directly with texts across multiple cultures. His scholarly contributions extend beyond research to pedagogy, where he serves as the general editor of the six-volume Longman Anthology of World Literature and has developed innovative courses at Harvard, including "Masterpieces of World Literature" and "Modern Masterpieces of World Literature." In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field, he was awarded the 2023 Balzan Prize for World Literature, cementing his position as one of the most respected figures in contemporary literary studies

Martin Puchner, the Byron and Anita Wien Professor of Drama and of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard University, has established himself as a transformative figure in literary and cultural studies. After completing his B.A. at Konstanz University in 1992 and Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1998, he has built an extraordinary academic career spanning modernism, drama, literary theory, and world literature. As the founding director of the Mellon School of Theater and Performance Research at Harvard, Puchner has authored numerous influential works, including "Culture: The Story of Us, from Cave Art to K-Pop" (2023), "Literature for a Changing Planet" (2022), and "The Written World" (2017). His scholarly impact is further evidenced by his role as general editor of The Norton Anthology of World Literature and co-editor of The Norton Anthology of Drama. His research interests encompass cultural history, climate change, language, migration, race, and theater performance. Puchner's contributions to academia have earned him prestigious recognitions, including the Guggenheim Fellowship and positions as a Cullman Fellow at the New York Public Library. At Harvard, he teaches cornerstone courses in world literature, including "Masterpieces of World Literature," "Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature," and "Modern Masterpieces of World Literature," while continuing to shape global literary discourse through his innovative research and teaching approaches