BURNS AND THE POETS

A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT SOMERVILLE COLLEGE, 25/26 MARCH, 2009

         TO CELEBRATE THE 250^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF                                                     

                                            ROBERT BURNS.

ORGANISERS: FIONA STAFFORD,  Somerville College, Oxford, OX2 6HD

                           BERNARD O’DONOGHUE, Wadham College, Oxford, OX1 3PN

2009 marks the 250^th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.  ‘Burns and the Poets’ will take place in Oxford, gathering together scholars, critics, musicians and practising poets to celebrate the astonishing achievement and legacy of Robert Burns. The focus is on Burns as a poet and in relation to other poets – not only his own predecessors, contemporaries and literary heirs, but also leading contemporary poets.  In order to explore Burns’s achievement as creatively as possible, there will be scholarly and critical papers on various aspects of his work, including the language, literary connections and influences, philosophical and political contexts, music, biography, reception and material culture.  There will also be poetry readings, performances of the songs and personal responses by practising poets.  The combination of creative and critical work seems an appropriate way to pay tribute to Burns, as well as contributing to the development of a new understanding of the poetry by drawing together critical and practical approaches.  

The first day of the Conference begins at 12 noon on 25^th March, with an Opening Address from one of Scotland’s most distinguished poets, Douglas Dunn, and concludes with a Poetry reading by Douglas Dunn, Don Paterson and Robert Crawford.  The Conference will conclude on Thursday 26^th March, with an evening of music and poetry featuring Bernard O’Donoghue, Tom Paulin and Mick Henry.  Both days will offer a full programme of lectures, papers and round table discussions.   

Speakers and performers so far include Douglas Dunn, Andrew O’Hagan, Don Paterson, Robert Crawford, Mick Henry, Bernard O’Donoghue, Tom Paulin, Murrray Pittock,  Stephen Gill, Brean Hammond, John Burnside, Andrew Noble, Gerard Carruthers, Neil Vickers,  Tim Fulford, Freya Johnstone, Hamish Mathieson, Rhona Brown, Valentina Bold, Gill Hughes, Meiko O’Halloran, Mina Gorji, David Hopes, Shelley Meagher, Caroline Bertoneche, Fiona Stafford.

To register for the Conference, offer a paper or to make informal enquiries, please contact Fiona Stafford  ([log in to unmask]) or Bernard O’Donoghue ([log in to unmask])

*********************************************************              

British Association for Romantic Studies                

http://www.bars.ac.uk

To advertise Romantic literature conferences, publications, jobs, or   

other events that the BARS members would be interested in, please      

contact Neil Ramsey <[log in to unmask]>

Also use this address to register any change in your e-mail address,

or to be removed from the list.

Messages are held in archives, along with other information about the

Mailbase at: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/bars.html

*********************************************************