Presidency of The Modern Humanities Research Association

Each year, the Association chooses as President a scholar of international repute who delivers the Presidential Address immediately after the AGM. The Association is delighted to welcome Professor Helder Macedo as President for 2009.

Helder Macedo read Law at Lisbon University and graduated in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at King’s College London, where he obtained his Ph.D, became a Lecturer in 1971 and was Camoens Professor from 1981 to 2004. He is now Emeritus Professor of Portuguese.

Other professional activities include the founding of Portuguese Studies, published by the MHRA, which was awarded the CELJ Prize for ‘Best New Journal’ in 1987; Associate Director of The Institute of Romance Studies, University of London (1990-2000); President of the International Association of Lusitanists (1993-96 and 1996-99), of which he is the Honorary President since 2002; Visiting Professor at universities in the USA, France, Spain, and Brazil. He was Secretary of State for Culture in Portugal (1979-80).

Honours and distinctions include Fellow of the Portuguese Academy of Sciences (since 1987); Fellow of King’s College London (since 1991); Comendador of the Portuguese Order of Santiago da Espada (since 1993).

Helder Macedo has published ten books and more than a hundred articles of literary criticism, as well as six collections of poetry and four novels. He was awarded prizes by the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon (1977), the Portuguese PEN Club (1999) and the International Association of Literary Critics (1999) for his work on Portuguese Renaissance literature. His latest novel was awarded the Portuguese PEN Club Prize for Fiction in 2007.

Professor Macedo’s Presidential Address, ‘Languages, Literature and Power’, was delivered at the Association's registered office, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London SWIY 5AF, on Friday 22 May 2009 and will be printed in the October 2009 issue of the Modern Language Review.

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Presidential Address 2009

The Presidential Address was delivered at 6.00 p.m. on Friday 22 May 2009 in the Council Room, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AF, England. It will be published in the October 2009 issue of Modern Language Review.

Presidential Address 2010

The Presidential Address for 2010 will be delivered by Prof. Barry Nisbet at 6.00 p.m. on Friday 21 May 2010 in the Council Room, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AF, England. It will be published in the October 2010 issue of Modern Language Review.