Pascale Casanova

About the Author

Pascale Casanova was a pioneering French literary scholar and sociologist whose groundbreaking work reshaped the understanding of global literature and its power dynamics. Born in 1949, she dedicated her career to exploring how literature transcends national boundaries, arguing that a 'world republic of letters' operates as an autonomous realm where writers from peripheral cultures challenge and enrich the dominant Western canon. Her seminal book, The World Republic of Letters (Convergences: Inventories of the Present), published in 1999 and translated into multiple languages, meticulously maps this international literary space, highlighting the struggles of non-Western authors for recognition and influence. Casanova's incisive analysis drew on vast archival research and interviews, revealing the hidden hierarchies and revolutionary potential within global literary production. A former editor at Libération and researcher at the Centre de Sociologie Européenne, she influenced generations of scholars until her passing in 2018, leaving a legacy that continues to illuminate the politics of literature worldwide.