The 10^th Biennial Symbiosis Conference, 2015  
Transatlantic Literary & Cultural Relations  

A Symbiosis and Essex University event
Venue: Essex University, Colchester, UK
Dates: Thursday 9^th to Sunday 12^th July, 2015
Keynote Speakers:  Jahan Ramazani (Virginia), Richard Gray (Essex), Peter Hulme (Essex)

The headline conference theme is Trauma, Conflict, and Reconciliation, although proposals on any topic relevant to any area of Transatlantic Studies are welcome. The event organizers, Prof. Philip Tew (Brunel), Dr. Matthew Scott (Reading) and Dr. Susan Oliver (Essex), invite submission of:

• 200 – 300 word abstracts for 20-minute conference presentations
• Panel proposals comprising 3 presenters (please submit three 200 word abstracts & brief overall rationale)
• Relevant roundtable discussion panels

Please send to both: philip.tew@brunel.ac.uk  / t.m.l.scott@reading.ac.uk

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday 3^rd March 2015

The editors of Symbiosis, the Conference Directors, and Essex University’s Department of English invite proposals for panels and individual papers of twenty-minute length, which engage a wide variety of transatlantic and/or transnational topics in the literatures and cultural histories of the Atlantic world. The conference is certainly not limited to any local concerns, although papers that treat issues related to the headline theme of conflict, trauma, and reconciliation in its transatlantic dimensions or as a matter of cultural exchange are especially welcome, as are those examining the first fifteen years of transatlantic literary and cultural responses to the twenty-first century. Additionally, as ever, submissions are actively encouraged from all scholars and students of literary and cultural history and representation from every period from the earliest settlement right through to the present.

Poet Donald Davie was the first Professor of English at the new University of Essex, moving to Stanford and Vanderbilt Universities; Robert Lowell taught there for two years in the 1970s.  The campus is conveniently located on the outskirts of Colchester, a thriving town, once the roman capital of Britain, now forty miles from London and only 46 minutes journey from London Liverpool Street station.  Colchester itself offers numerous attractive bars, restaurants and two large shopping centres; the campus is close to the riparian attractions of Wivenhoe, also full of pubs and eating-places. The area is rich in cultural and literary history and was an inspiration to two of Britain’s greatest painters, John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough.

Accommodation can be booked on campus, in a variety of well-appointed rooms, minutes away from the conference centre and the Symbiosis event. The conference fee (TBA) will include a two-year subscription to the Symbiosis journal, conference lunches, teas and coffees; single accommodation (with continental breakfast) can be booked if specified, and double rooms at a higher fee.  The conference banquet is additional, and delegates are responsible for their own evening and other supplementary meals. Activities will include an opening literary event at the university and a local cultural excursion on the Sunday. A list of local hotels and guest houses, if preferred, can be provided.

Please submit 200 – 300 word abstracts with academic affiliation and contact details in Microsoft Word attachments by 3^rd March, 2015 to the Conference Directors, Prof. Philip Tew (Brunel) and Dr. Matthew Scott (Reading): Philip.tew@brunel.ac.uk / t.m.l.scott@reading.ac.uk. Add ‘Symbiosis 2015 Proposal’ to the subject line of your message, an essential detail since they will be sorted automatically using this search term.

All inquiries are welcome; early acceptance may be possible if required for institutional or similar funding to facilitate attendance. Symbiosis cannot offer bursaries or fee waivers but will offer a reduced early rate. Further details will be posted on the Brunel university webpage, on the Symbiosis website and its Facebook page. See variously:

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/arts
http://www.symbiosisonline.org.uk/;
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Glasgow-United-Kingdom/Symbiosis-a-Journal-of-Anglo-American-Literary-Relations/313163095816