29, 30, & 31 August 2014 at the Scarman Conference Centre, Warwick University

The Brontë Society is pleased to announce that the conference will take place on 29, 30, & 31 August 2014 at the Scarman Conference Centre, Warwick University

In the nineteenth century the term, ‘Condition of England’ was applied mainly to the economic and commercial problems of the nation. For this conference we would like to broaden the meaning to include, if possible, some of the other major national concerns of the day, which would have impacted on the Brontë family and possibly influenced their works. Some of the most obvious examples are: development of the railways; controversy over home-rule for Ireland; abolition of slavery; Catholic emancipation; Law reform; and the Chartist Movement. The last topic is particularly pertinent, as Haworth was at the very centre of the rapid industrialisation of the former cottage industries of wool-combing, spinning, and weaving.

In addition to formal papers, we are looking to include a limited number of seminar sessions on the conference theme, and are calling for proposals and leaders for these sessions.

Abstracts for papers and proposals for seminar sessions should be sent to: The Conference Organiser, Brontë Society, Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth, Keighley BD22 8DR, or by email here.

Deadline for receipt of submissions: February 28, 2014

Abstracts should be limited to no more than 300 words.

Successful speakers will be notified no later than March 31, 2014