Around the World in 80 Books

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Embark on a captivating journey through global literature, connecting classic and modern works that engage with each other and the world. Inspired by Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg, David Damrosch, chair of Harvard's Department of Comparative Literature, explores eighty exceptional books to counter pandemic travel restrictions. His literary itinerary spans from London to Venice and Tehran, featuring authors like Woolf, Dante, and Nobel laureates such as Orhan Pamuk and Wole Soyinka. Damrosch examines how these narratives shape our understanding of the world and how reality influences literature. He highlights the dual existence of writers in their personal experiences and the literary canon that informs their creativity. His exploration includes contemporary works alongside timeless classics, blending genres from crime fiction to fantasy, and formative tales that introduce us to new worlds. Collectively, these eighty titles provide fresh insights into enduring issues, including the social impacts of epidemics, rising inequality, and the patriarchal challenges faced by heroines from Murasaki Shikibu to Margaret Atwood. This journey through literature offers a profound perspective on the complexities of life and society.