Regional literature congress opens in Belize City

In Belize, where television is fast replacing the written word, the ninth International Congress on Central American Literature may just be what is needed to get Belizeans to re-visit their favorite authors. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams was diverted from her normal beat to become a scholar-for-a-day.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

The first working session of the ninth International Congress on Central American Literature got under this morning at the Princess Hotel in Belize City.

Co-sponsored by Purdue University at Calumet, the event brings together those involved in academia, particularly writers, scholars and literary critics to share their work. James Yackel is Purdue’s Chancellor.

James Yackel, Chancellor, Purdue University

“The most important part of the conference is having the literary critics from the universities meet with the authors and exchange ideas, which helps a great deal in fostering understanding between people of all cultures and different parts of the world.”

While simultaneous presentations were going on with authors from different parts of the world. I attended a session on Nicaragua: From Modernism to the Contemporary Novel.”

The novel, which was discussed, is entitle – El Oro de Mallorca ¿Novela Inconclusa? written by the late Ruben Dario, a modernists writer of the late 19th- early 20th century.

Ann-Marie Williams

“As a critic, how does the novel come, highly recommended?

Ivan A. Schulman, Literary Critic

“The critics have given it low marks, but that’s because they consider it to be a novel which should demonstrate purely stylistic aesthetic values.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“How do you rate it?

Ivan A. Schulman

“I value it as an important novel.”

Reporting for News 5, Ann-Marie Williams.

The Congress officially opens this evening at seven at the Princess Hotel. Guest speaker at the event is Belizean novelist Zee Edgell, while Prime Minister Said Musa will deliver the keynote address.