Rewriting the Canon: A Look at What We Learn from Contemporary Updates of the Classics

deadline for submissions: 
September 30, 2026
full name / name of organization: 
NEMLA
contact email: 

Since 1991 the Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to four novels that reimagined literary works that have long been a part of the canon. They are: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (a contemporary King Lear); March by Geraldine Brooks (Little Women from the perspective of the absent father); Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (David Copperfield set in Appalachia); and James by Percival Everett (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim). This panel looks to open a discussion about how these and other contemporary novels both explore and challenge the themes of the source material. What do they say about society, race, gender, feminism, and marginalization?

The session will be held in-person but a few remote presentations may be included. Please submit to:  https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/22599