Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian Michele Monserrati received the 2017 National Library of Australia Fellowship, supported by the Harold S. Williams Trust for Research in Japan Studies.
The fellowship will support Monserrati's research for his book manuscript titled Searching for Japan in Contemporary Italy. Through the examination of texts by Italian writers who visited Japan during the 20th century, Professor Monserrati’s project explores the evolution of national identity and the cross-cultural exchange between Japan and Italy.
As a fellow, Monserrati will be able to take advantage of the National Library of Australia’s collection to advance his research. Monserrati plans to use his time at the library to research the period after Italian unification and the Meiji restoration in order to write the remaining chapter of his manuscript.