Lines & Spaces

In partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, the International Writing Program organizes reading tours to countries or regions with a relatively sparse history of literary liaisons with the contemporary United States.

The aim of a Reading Tour is two-fold: to introduce important American writers to a new and distinct literary-cultural landscape, and to create opportunities for colleagues and students there to meet with a group of distinguished representatives of the current American literary scene.

The tour involves public readings, visits to universities and literary institutions, encounters with cultural personalities and media, and visits to places and events that increase our understanding of the historical and current affairs of the region.

Happening Now

  • Congratulations to our colleagues Jennifer Croft and Aron Aji, who are among those serving as judges for the National Book Awards this year, in their case in the category of translated literature.

  • Ranjit Hoskote’s speech at the 2024 Goa Literary Festival addresses the current situation in Gaza.

  • In NY Times, Bina Shah worries about the state of Pakistani—and American—democracy.

  • “I went to [Ayodhya] to think about what it means to be an Indian and a Hindu... ”  A new essay by critic and novelist Chandrahas Choudhury.

  • In the January 2024 iteration of the French/English non-fiction site Frictions, T J Benson writes about “Riding Afrobeats Across the World.” Also new, a next installment in the bilingual series featuring work by students from Paris VIII’s Creative Writing program and the University of Iowa’s NFW program.

Find Us Online