World Literature Today
An American magazine of international literature and culture published by the University of Oklahoma.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
World Literature Today is an American literary magazine devoted to international writing and cultural exchange. Published at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, it presents translated and original material for a broad, non-academic readership. Its editorial scope includes essays, poetry, fiction, interviews, and book reviews, with coverage extending across languages, regions, literary traditions, and contemporary cultural debates. The publication began in 1927 under the title Books Abroad. It was founded by Roy Temple House, a University of Oklahoma professor who sought to create a periodical capable of introducing readers to literature beyond the English-speaking world. The first issue was a 32-page publication. Over subsequent decades, the journal expanded substantially, and by its fiftieth year its issues exceeded 250 pages. In January 1977, it adopted the name World Literature Today, a title that more directly expressed its international literary remit. The magazine has maintained a close relationship with literary scholarship while deliberately addressing readers outside the academy. Its editors have used reviews, surveys, translations, interviews, and thematic issues to connect writers and literary cultures across national and linguistic boundaries. During Ernst Erich Noth's editorship, the journal concentrated more heavily on twentieth-century writers and recent books, and added a recurring survey of literary periodicals from Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world. Robert Vlach later established a review section focused on Slavic-language literatures and initiated the Books Abroad symposia held in conjunction with the Modern Language Association's annual convention. World Literature Today has also played a role in international literary institutions. It sponsors or is associated with the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature, and the Puterbaugh Festival of International Literature and Culture. The Neustadt Prize, sometimes informally compared with the Nobel Prize in Literature, has strengthened the publication's profile as a forum for global literary recognition. The magazine has also repeatedly engaged with discussion surrounding the Nobel Prize in Literature, including an early twentieth-century writers' poll, a major issue on the Swedish Academy, and coverage of connections between Neustadt-affiliated writers and later Nobel recognition. In 2006, the publication changed its frequency from quarterly to bimonthly. In 2017, the University of Oklahoma literary publishing ecosystem expanded with the creation of Latin American Literature Today, a sister journal focused specifically on Latin American writing. Robert Con Davis-Undiano, an English professor at the University of Oklahoma, became the director of World Literature Today in 1999. The magazine continues to function as a literary periodical, cultural platform, and sponsor of international literature initiatives rather than as a mass-market consumer brand.
History
World Literature Today originated at the University of Oklahoma in 1927 as Books Abroad. Roy Temple House, a professor at the university, founded the periodical and served as its first editor. The initial issue contained 32 pages and established the publication's central purpose: presenting international literature and literary culture to readers in English. Although connected to university scholarship, the journal was designed to reach beyond a strictly academic audience through reviews, essays, translations, poetry, fiction, and interviews. House remained editor until his retirement in 1949. During the early years, Choctaw writer Todd Downing, who had been House's student, worked with the publication in several capacities from 1928 to 1934. House was followed by Ernst Erich Noth, a German critic and novelist who edited the journal for approximately a decade. Noth tightened the periodical's chronological focus by emphasizing twentieth-century writers and generally reviewing books published within the previous two years. He also introduced a feature known as Periodicals in Review, or in some issues Periodicals at Large, which examined the editorial policies and initiatives of literary journals from multiple regions. Wolfgang Bernard Fleischmann, a Viennese scholar, directed the publication for roughly two years beginning in 1959. In 1961 he was succeeded by Robert Vlach, a Czech émigré and University of Oklahoma professor of modern languages. Vlach broadened the journal's linguistic range by creating a review section dedicated to Slavic-language literature. He also initiated the Books Abroad symposia, which were held alongside the annual convention of the Modern Language Association. Following Vlach's death in 1966, former assistant editor Bernice Duncan served briefly before Ivar Ivask took over in 1967. The most visible identity change came in January 1977, when Books Abroad became World Literature Today. The new name made the magazine's worldwide scope explicit. By the publication's fiftieth year, its issues had grown beyond 250 pages, reflecting the expansion of its editorial and reviewing activities. The journal continued to combine literary criticism with translated and original creative work, interviews, cultural essays, and coverage of international literary institutions. The publication has long maintained a connection with major literary prizes and debates about literary prestige. Its editors encouraged discussion of the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1940, the magazine organized a Super-Nobel election asking contributors and specialists to select the writer they considered the most important contributor to world literature during the first third of the twentieth century, without limiting the choice to Nobel laureates. Thomas Mann won the vote. In 1948, House was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and received a formal endorsement from the South Central Modern Language Association. The spring 1981 issue focused entirely on members of the Swedish Academy. The University of Oklahoma Press also issued the first English-language edition of Nobel: The Man and His Prizes in 1951. In late 2000, editors worked with approximately 40 scholars on a list of the most important works in world literature published during the magazine's first seventy-five years. The project was intended to stimulate discussion among general readers as well as specialists. In 2006, World Literature Today changed from a quarterly to a bimonthly publication. Robert Con Davis-Undiano, a University of Oklahoma English professor, became the journal's director in 1999. In 2017, Latin American Literature Today was established as a sister journal concentrating on Latin American writing. World Literature Today also sponsors or supports the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature, and the Puterbaugh Festival of International Literature and Culture. A centennial anthology, A Compass on the Navigable Sea: 100 Years of World Literature, was scheduled for publication by Restless Books in 2026 and gathers essays, reviews, interviews, poems, stories, and letters associated with the magazine's long history. The available reference material does not identify a current editor or director beyond the recorded appointment of Davis-Undiano, so the present leadership structure should be verified separately.
- 2026
Centennial anthology
[1]A Compass on the Navigable Sea: 100 Years of World Literature was published as a centennial anthology of material from the magazine's history.
- 2017
Latin American Literature Today is established
[1]A sister journal focused on Latin American literature was launched.
- 2006
Publication frequency changes
[1]World Literature Today shifted from quarterly to bimonthly publication.
- 2000
Most Important Works in World Literature project
[1]Editors collaborated with about 40 scholars on a reader-oriented list of important works published during the magazine's first seventy-five years.
- 1999
Robert Con Davis-Undiano becomes director
[1]University of Oklahoma English professor Robert Con Davis-Undiano became the publication's director.
- 1981
Issue devoted to the Swedish Academy
[1]The spring issue examined the members of the Swedish Academy, including their work as creative writers.
- 1977
The magazine becomes World Literature Today
[1]Books Abroad adopted its current title in January 1977.
- 1961
Robert Vlach expands Slavic-literature coverage
[1]Robert Vlach became director and established a review section devoted to Slavic languages and literature.
- 1951
University of Oklahoma Press publishes Nobel reference volume
[1]The University of Oklahoma Press published the first English-language edition of Nobel: The Man and His Prizes.
- 1940
Super-Nobel literary election
[1]The publication organized a poll asking specialists and contributors to select the most significant world-literature writer of the first third of the twentieth century; Thomas Mann was chosen.
Products and positioning
A university-published, internationally oriented literary magazine that makes global writing and literary culture accessible to both specialist and general readers.
Literary magazine · 1927
World Literature Today
The core publication is an internationally focused literary magazine containing essays, poetry, fiction, interviews, translations, and reviews of books from different languages and regions. It is published by the University of Oklahoma and is intended for a general readership as well as students, scholars, writers, and literary professionals. The magazine's editorial identity combines accessible criticism with the presentation of global literary cultures.
Literary prize
Neustadt International Prize for Literature
A biennial international literary prize sponsored by World Literature Today. It extends the magazine's role beyond periodical publishing by recognizing significant writers from across national and linguistic traditions. The award is closely associated with the magazine's international-literature mission and has sometimes been described in public commentary as an Oklahoma counterpart to the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Literary prize
NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature
A prize associated with World Literature Today that recognizes children's and young adult literature in an international context. It broadens the publication's prize activity beyond adult literary fiction and criticism.
Literary festival
Puterbaugh Festival of International Literature and Culture
An international literature and culture festival sponsored by World Literature Today. The festival provides a public-facing counterpart to the magazine's editorial work by bringing international writers and cultural discussion into an event setting.
Brand decisions
2017
Establish Latin American Literature TodayProduct launchBackground
The University of Oklahoma's international literary publishing activities expanded into a dedicated journal for Latin American literature.
Action taken
Latin American Literature Today was launched as a sister publication.
Aftermath
The launch created a more specialized editorial outlet while complementing World Literature Today's broader international remit.
2006
Move from quarterly to bimonthly publicationStrategyBackground
The journal had expanded considerably from its early format and continued to develop its coverage of international literature and culture.
Action taken
World Literature Today increased its publication frequency from quarterly to bimonthly.
Aftermath
The change gave the magazine a more frequent publication cycle; the available reference material does not provide circulation or financial results.
1977
Rename Books Abroad as World Literature TodayStrategyBackground
The original title no longer expressed the full breadth of the magazine's international literary and cultural remit.
Action taken
The publication adopted the name World Literature Today in January 1977.
Aftermath
The new title became the magazine's enduring identity and more clearly positioned it as a publication about world literature rather than only books published abroad.
Sources2 sources
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