FABLES, FAIRYTALES, AND LEGENDS: NEW ENGLISH LITERATURE COURSE IN SPRING 2026

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”

— J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

We are all familiar with Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but have we ever stopped to think about how these stories came to be? 

During the Spring 2026 semester at The American University of Rome, you could discover the origins and essence of your favorite childhood stories. Professor Mattia Maglione will launch a new course, ENG 316, on Fables, Fairy Tales, and Legends, exploring the rich history, diverse genres, and cultural significance of children's literature. 

Professor Maglione has focused his research on Carroll's works, particularly Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which will be one of the texts analyzed during this course. Students will have the opportunity to explore the magic of children's literature, from Arthurian legends to Disney live-action adaptations.

According to Professor Maglione, “this is a course for those who are ‘entirely bonkers,’ to quote Lewis Carroll, ‘but I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are’”.