“Our Italians”
Anglo-Italian Relationships 1845-1865
A Three-Day International Conference Organised by
The Browning Society
28 September – 2 October 2005
At the Abbey and Foresteria in
Vallombrosa, Italy
“Our Italians” aims to:
· Examine the literary, political, artistic, and social cross-currents
between Italy, Britain, and America during twenty turbulent years of Italian
history
· Consider the influence of the expatriate communities on life in their
adopted Italian cities, as well as public opinion back home in England and
America regarding Italy’s struggle for independence and its allies, such as
Napoleon III
· Trace parallels between the Risorgimento and the American Civil War
· Place Anglo-Italian painting and sculpture in the wider cultural context
of literature, politics and religion
· Reassess the contribution of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and
their close circle towards Anglo-Italian understanding and friendship
This conference will take place and accommodation will be provided in the
Abbey and Foresteria of Vallombrosa. The Abbey lies high in the hills thirty
kilometers from Florence. Vallombrosa was visited by John Milton in 1638
and, since then, has attracted great numbers of literary tourists, including
Mrs Piozzi, Mary Shelley, Wordsworth, Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
the Trollopes and John Ruskin. Today the Abbey is still in use, and we are
grateful to the abbot and monks for allowing part of the conference to take
place there.
Delegates will stay in the Foresteria, the former Abbey guest-house, which
is situated just opposite the entrance of the Abbey. This has recently been
converted into a modern *** star hotel, comfortable and simply furnished,
each room having private facilities and TV. Some activities will take place
in the Foresteria lecture room.
Registration will take place between 4.00 and 6.00pm on Wednesday, 28
September, followed by a dinner. The conference itself will take place on 29
and 30 September, and there will be an optional third day in Arezzo on 1
October for those interested in discovering the background to Robert
Browning’s The Ring and the Book, part of which is set in Arezzo. There will
be a talk and a small exhibition in the State Archives (where
Franceschini/Caponsacchi trial papers are kept) and a chance to see all the
buildings mentioned in the poem before returning to Vallombrosa.
Transportation between Florence and Vallombrosa will be available for those
without cars or those not wishing to use public transport, and a coach will
be provided for the day in Arezzo. Delegates will leave Vallombrosa after
breakfast on either 1 October or 2 October.
The cost of the conference, which includes room, transport to and from
Florence, all meals and refreshments during the day, including wine with
dinner, will be per person:
3 nights: 400 euros
4 nights: 500 euros
There will be an international panel of speakers, and it is also our aim to
encourage delegates not giving papers to contribute to discussions groups,
both formal and informal, in a relaxed and stimulating environment. The main
language of the conference will be English. Any Italian papers will have a
printed English summary, and we hope to attract strong Italian support and
participation. A more detailed programme should be available in late autumn
2004.
If you are interested in securing a place at the conference, please let us
know by 30 September 2004. We shall then require a deposit of 150 euros per
person by 1 November 2004 (refundable up to 1 June 2005). Full payment will
be required by 1 August 2005. Inquiries and further information can be
obtained from:
In England:
Dr Pamela Neville-Sington
84 Addison Gardens
London W14 0DR
pamela@tvdox.com
In Italy:
Simonetta Berbeglia
Via Cavour 89
52100 Arezzo
simonabe58@hotmail.com
Visit the hotel website at www.albergolaforesta.it
For the Abbey, see www.vallombrosa.it
Keep up to date with conference plans via the ‘News’ page at
www.browningsociety.org
===============================================
From the Literary Calls for Papers Mailing List
CFP@english.upenn.edu
Full Information at
http://www.english.upenn.edu/CFP/
or write Erika Lin: elin@english.upenn.edu
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