First Student Byron Conference

Literature students or general readers can come along to a special Edge Hill University event to celebrate the work of Byron.

For the first time ever, the University is holding a new Student Byron Conference on Wednesday 25th May to explore the poetry of the famous aristocrat who is viewed as one of the greatest British poets and remains widely read and influential.

Dr Mary Hurst, Lecturer in Literature at Edge Hill University who has helped to organise the conference, said: "This promises to be a thought-provoking event and is aimed at second and third year undergraduates, MA students and first year PhD students wanting to develop their knowledge and skills. It provides an excellent opportunity for those students who might be interested in postgraduate work, to try out and develop their conference skills.  It is also of interest to general readers who would like to know more about Lord Byron. They will have the opportunity to hear keynote speakers who are international experts in this field."

The event is part of the ongoing research activities of the Romanticism at Edge Hill Forum and has been organised in collaboration with Dr Alan Rawes of The Byron Centre at the University of Manchester, which is devoted to advancing the study of all aspects of Lord Byron: his life, writings, times, worldwide reception and international influence.

On the day, a number of students will present papers on a range of topics including Byron and Fame, Byron in Europe, Byron and His Contemporaries and Byron and Scandal. There will also be a ‘live' close reading session during which speakers, chairpersons and audience may share their thoughts on an extract from Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Extracts will be provided at registration.

Keynote speakers will include a number of well known Byron and Romantic Literature scholars who will answer questions from the audience on Byron's poetry.

The conference fee is £8.50 + VAT. For further information about this event, please contact Dr Mary Hurst on 01695 650783 or email . All are welcome.