11th Annual Dickens Society Symposium
Queen’s University
Belfast, Northern Ireland
11-13 August 2006

Call for Papers

Charles Dickens visited Belfast in 1858, 1867, and 1869, to deliver those public readings which so captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. He gave renditions of such favourites as The Story of Little Dombey, Boots at the Holly-Tree Inn, Mrs Gamp, and Sikes and Nancy. He also developed close friendships with the Belfast-born politician and merchant James Emerson Tennent and with Francis Dalziel Finlay, owner and editor of The Northern Whig. He enjoyed his sojourns in Ulster, remarking on his ‘delightful days’ in Belfast, where he was widely recognised and warmly welcomed.

Belfast is the venue for the 11th annual symposium of the Dickens Society of America. This organisation, founded in 1970, aims to conduct, encourage, foster and further support research, publication, instruction and general interest in the life, times and literature of Charles Dickens.

Papers are welcomed on any aspect of Dickens and his works. Final papers must be readable in twenty minutes.

Prospective panellists should send a one-page abstract, by post or email, to

Dr Leon Litvack
School of English
Queen’s University
Belfast BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland, UK

L.Litvack@qub.ac.uk
Tel. +44-28-90973266

Conference participants will have the opportunity to sign up for excursions to local sites of interest including the Giant’s Causeway and the North Antrim coast. The highlight of the conference is the will be the Dickens dinner, where delegates will experience traditional Irish singing and storytelling, provided by the famed local duo Len Graham and John Campbell, who have delighted audiences throughout Ireland, the U.K., Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA.
Accommodation will be offered at the Elms Student Village, 78 Malone Road, Belfast

Conference information and registration forms can be obtained at the conference website.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 May 2006

Further information on the Dickens Society, and its journal The Dickens Quarterly may be found at http://www.dickensquarterly.org/