We are soliciting papers from Hardy scholars around the world for the Twentieth International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival which will take place in Dorchester, UK from 18-26th August, 2012. Proposals should take the form of an abstract not exceeding 250 words max for papers of 20 minutes duration. These will be delivered in chaired parallel sessions throughout the week as part of the academic program of lectures, seminars, talks and the postgraduate symposium. Proposals may address any aspect of Hardy’s life, work and thought but we are particularly keen to encourage papers focusing on the following areas:
- Hardy and Genre (particularly the short story)
- Hardy and the Visual and/or Plastic Arts
- Hardy and Intertextuality
- Hardy and Cultural Heritage
- Wessex and the wider world
- Hardy and international politics
- International responses to the work of Thomas Hardy
- Hardy’s influence on poets, writers and musicians (including popular musicians) in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
Proposals should be addressed to: ‘Call for Papers’ – ( The Thomas Hardy Society) Dr. Jane Thomas, Department of English University of Hull, East Yorkshire HU6 7RX
Email: j.e.thomas@hull.ac.uk
All submissions will be read and adjudicated by an academic panel.
The closing date is 31st March 2012.
The best of the papers given at the Conference will be eligible for publication in the peer-reviewed Thomas Hardy Journal appearing in Autumn 2012. Conference delegates contributing to the panels will be required to register for the Conference and Festival (‘Day Rates’ can be negotiated) and will be responsible for finding their own accommodation, which they are advised to do as soon as possible as accommodation is likely to be scarce in August in view of the Sailing Olympics.
A small contingency fund is available to assist accepted speakers who are not affiliated to an Institute of Higher Education or who might require financial assistance to attend the Conference and Festival. Decisions will be made by the adjudicating panel on a case by case basis.