04/03/08 - Lewis lecture discussing transnationalism slated for April 15

The Department of English will host the 19th annual General L. M. Lewis Lecture on Tuesday, April 15 in 601 Rudder Tower. A departmental awards ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by the lecture at 8 p.m. Texas A&M University English Professor Dennis Berthold will speak on “Chasing Garibaldi: Transnationalizing American Literature.”

The lecture addresses a recent trend in American literary and cultural studies called "transnationalism," which examines American writers in a larger, global context. Through his research on Herman Melville, Berthold will show how Melville’s use of Italy exemplifies the problems associated with transnationalism and will conclude by assessing the perils and promises of transnational approaches to literary study.

Berthold has published on the cultural politics of iconography, landscape and the visual arts in 19th century American literature in such journals as the William & Mary Quarterly and American Literary History. His books include an edition of letters and a collection of essays on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s travel sketches.

The lecture series honors General L.M. Lewis, the first of 18 heads of the English Department at Texas A&M—who served from 1878-1879.

For more information on the upcoming lecture, visit the Department of English website or call 979.845.3452.

-30-

Contact: Holly Lambert, hollyalyselambert@libarts.tamu.edu, 979.862.4879