[ About ]■
Literary Odysseys creates immersive, place-based reading journeys that bring literature off the page and into the world. Founded and led by writer and educator Zein el-Amine, Literary Odysseys invites participants to read powerful books in the very places where they are set—walking the streets, landscapes, and neighborhoods that shaped the stories, the authors, and the histories behind them.
Originally developed as university courses and later reimagined as independent programs, Literary Odysseys has guided small groups of readers through countries such as Ireland, Egypt, and Morocco, pairing close reading with cultural context, historical inquiry, and thoughtful travel. Participants don’t just study literature—they live alongside it: following Leopold Bloom’s footsteps through Dublin while reading Ulysses, navigating Cairo’s neighborhoods through the novels of Naguib Mahfouz, or grappling with postcolonial and autobiographical narratives in Tangier while reading Mohamed Choukri and contemporary critics of the literary gaze.
At the heart of Literary Odysseys is the belief that reading is a collective, embodied act. These journeys foster deep engagement with complex texts by situating them within lived space and shared conversation. Reading together across borders opens new interpretations and challenges assumptions about culture, identity, authorship, and belonging. It also raises important questions about power, representation, tourism, and ethics central to responsible global reading.
[ HISTORY ]Crossing bridges between worlds—literary, cultural, human.
Literary Odysseys is intentionally small-scale, inclusive, and community-driven. Participants support one another through the reading material, and engage in dialogue across linguistic, cultural, and religious differences. Without institutional gatekeeping, the program welcomes writers, educators, students, and curious readers who are eager to think deeply and travel thoughtfully.
Over the years, these journeys have shaped not only how participants read, but how they write, teach, and understand the world. Alumni have gone on to become educators, artists, and published authors, carrying the insights of these shared experiences into their creative and intellectual lives.
From academically rich explorations to accessible adventures like Journey Through Joyce’s Ireland, Literary Odysseys offers multiple entry points into a single idea: that literature is inseparable from place, and that reading the world carefully, critically, and together, can transform both text and reader.
Whether you’re a lifelong literary traveler or opening a book for the first time, Literary Odysseys invites you to join the journey.
