David C. Atherton's most recent book, Writing Violence: The Politics of Form in Early Modern Japanese Literature (Columbia University Press, 2023), has been named a 2024 Choice Outstanding Academic Title by the American Library Association. Writing Violence, which uses depictions of violence in early modern literature to show how the formal features of early modern literature had the potential to alter the perception of time and space and make social and economic forces visible, has been recognized for its overall excellence in presentation and scholarship, its importance relative to other literature in the field, its distinction as a pioneering treatment of its subject, its originality, and its value to undergraduate students and library collections.

Prof. Atherton is an Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations in the Department of EALC. He is a recipient of the Roslyn Abramson Award for “excellence and sensitivity in teaching undergraduates,” awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the Everett Mendelsohn Award for Excellence in Mentoring, awarded by the Harvard Graduate Student Council. He was also voted a “Favorite Professor” by the Class of 2025.

More information about the Choice list can be found here.