1^st Bi-annual North American Dickens ConferenceHosted by Salem State University Drama/faculty dept. & Dickens of North Boston
Salem Anthenaeum, Salem, MA
September 26-28, 2014

The International Dickens Fellowship-North of Boston Branch along with the Planning Committee and Advisory Board will hold the 1st Bi-annual North American Dickens Conference. This three-day conference on Charles Dickens, titled “Pickwickian Endeavors,” will be held on September 26-28, 2014, at Salem State University, Salem, MA. The event will include noted Dickens scholars John Jordan, Professor of English at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Director of the Dickens Project, Natalie McKnight, Assoc. Dean of Faculty Research and Professor of Humanities at Boston University and author of books on Dickens and Victorian Literature, and Lillian Nayder, Professor and Chair of the English Department at Bates College.

It will also offer lectures and sessions on Dickens work and related cultural events. These include talks by Jan Turnquist, Director of Orchard House, performing ‘Mrs. Jarley’s Wax Works’, Karen Goodno-McQuire, Visiting Lecturer in History at Salem State, whose research shows how Dickens inspires Louisa May Alcott, and a presentation on film adaptations of Dickens’ novels by author Fred Guida. We are pleased to have Gerald Dickens performing and discussing his great, great grandfathers theatrical pleasures. Optional visits with talks will include the House of Seven Gables, Omni Parker House, and other related local historical and literary sites. An additional option will include a day for research and visit to the Fellman Dickens Collection at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Monday, September 29, 2014. We hope you will support us and encourage your colleagues and students to attend.

The International Dickens Fellowship, founded in 1902, is a worldwide association of individuals sharing an interest in the life and works of Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870). The Fellowship is based in London, England, at the Charles Dickens Museum, with 48 branches, located in the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, India, Japan and the Netherlands.  We hope that this conference will serve as a template for future bi-annual North American & Canadian regional conferences with Dickensian flair.  Please visit www.dickensnorthofboston.com for preliminary itinerary, registration, and details.   The International Dickens Fellowship page is also found there.

Sponsors of the event will have their names on all conference materials and are offered an individual link on the conference website.   We are asking sponsors to add their organizational name to the event, and to contribute to the operating costs.   We thank you in advance for your consideration in  lending  your support  to this  1st  Bi-annual North American Dickens Conference.

Sponsorship Payments of  $300, $200 or $100.- by Dec. 31, 2013,  will be gratefully received by: Kathy Anderson@ 3 Ronna Rd, Gloucester, MA 01930 and made to the same.