After many years of planning and jumping through the hoops of the rigorous University approval process, we were delighted at last to launch our new research Centre in Comparative Literature and Translation in May of this year.  To mark the occasion, we were very pleased to be able to host in person the acclaimed Egyptian comics artist, Deena Mohammed, as our first guest speaker, in dialogue with our own Susan Bassnett, whose groundbreaking work connecting both disciplinary fields was in many ways the inspiration behind our new Centre. Susan talked with Deena about the process of self-translating from Arabic to English her prize-winning Your Wish is My Command, in the first in what we intend to be a regular ‘feature’ series of the Centre, staging dialogues between writers or artists and their translators. 

As well as complementing our UG Comp Lit degree, our Masters programmes in both disciplines, and hosting an annual PG conference, the Centre will support and facilitate much of the innovative research already being done by staff in the School, and across the College, whether through publications, impact activity, or international networks – the latter will be particularly important, and we are already working to establish close links with organisations and other centres in the UK and around the world, including the Institute of World Literature at Harvard, with whom we now have an affiliate membership, and the University of Paris-3 in France. In addition, our website will make the most of digital resources, including a Youtube channel, a podcast section, and an exhibition space for posters showcasing the many varied projects of our excellent PhD students.  We already have many exciting things planned for the coming year, so it’s definitely a case of watch this space! 

First published: 16 September 2024

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