A lifelong love of South African literature, and an attempt to share that love with the world, has earned University of the Western Cape (UWC) Extraordinary Professor of English David Attwell a prestigious A-rating from the country’s National Research Foundation – an honour awarded only to those who do top-quality internationally-respected and field-transforming work.
“I'm thrilled by this news, and very grateful for the support and friendship of colleagues old and new at UWC,” he says. “This means a great deal to me, especially because I began my academic career at UWC in the heady [Jake] Gerwel years, having been appointed by our esteemed colleague and friend, the late Stan Ridge.”
Attwell is only UWC’s fifth A-rated researcher - and the only one with an A1 rating - and also the first outside the natural sciences. His main research interests are in postcolonial studies: postcolonial theory, critical formations in postcolonial countries, anglophone African writing, South African literature, and theories and practices of cultural translation.
“David has unique academic expertise and an illuminating understanding of the literary landscape,” says Prof Burtram Fielding, Director of UWC’s Research Office.
“This recognition shows the commitment of Arts to expand the supervisory capacity of the faculty by appointing extraordinary researchers of this calibre.”
Fittingly for a man of words, Prof Attwell had a few of his own to share on his work, his time at UWC, and more…
“I'm thrilled by this news, and very grateful for the support and friendship of colleagues old and new at UWC,” he says. “This means a great deal to me, especially because I began my academic career at UWC in the heady [Jake] Gerwel years, having been appointed by our esteemed colleague and friend, the late Stan Ridge.”
Attwell is only UWC’s fifth A-rated researcher - and the only one with an A1 rating - and also the first outside the natural sciences. His main research interests are in postcolonial studies: postcolonial theory, critical formations in postcolonial countries, anglophone African writing, South African literature, and theories and practices of cultural translation.
“David has unique academic expertise and an illuminating understanding of the literary landscape,” says Prof Burtram Fielding, Director of UWC’s Research Office.
“This recognition shows the commitment of Arts to expand the supervisory capacity of the faculty by appointing extraordinary researchers of this calibre.”
Fittingly for a man of words, Prof Attwell had a few of his own to share on his work, his time at UWC, and more…