Dickens and the Idea of 'The Dickensian': A Tale of Four Cities - A Bicentenary Traveling Conference

The aim of this week-long travelling conference is to celebrate the bicentenary of Dickens's birth, which falls on 7 February 2012, in a manner befitting a writer who has given so much to so many around the globe. It takes the form of a kind of pilgrimage - festive, of course, rather than solemn - joining four cardinal places central to Dickens's life and art. This journey of critical discovery takes us from Paris, where he finished Little Dorrit, to Condette near Boulogne where he spent time with Ellen Ternan, to Rochester and Chatham where he grew up, to end up in London, the city with which he is so often associated (rightly or wrongly), on the birthday itself. It is envisaged that some participants (like all members of the organizing committee) will want to enjoy the whole week-long experience, whereas others will drop in and out as they please.

We are pleased to announce that registration for the conference is now open. Many thanks for your patience in bearing with the time it hastaken to bring all these logistics together.

Directions for Registration:
The website for delegates is now live at http://spain.slu.edu/academics/conferences_&_events/dickens2012/index.html
Please complete the Conference Registration Form (also attached) and return it to us by email by November 30th. Enter your information directly into the Word Document (formatting will change, though) or print out the form, complete it, and scan and attach it to an email to Paul Vita (vitap@slu.edu) or fax it to Paul Vita (+34 915 54 62 02).
If you wish to pay by credit card, you can do so by going to http://spain.slu.edu/academics/conferences_&_events/dickens2012/index.html.
If you are paying by cheque/money order, please enclose a copy of the Conference Registration Form with your payment (addresses are listed on the form).

We will be organizing hotel accommodations for the Condette and Chatham stages of the Conference, travel from Condette to Chatham, and special events based on information entered on the Conference Registration Form. We must receive your payment in advance (either by post or through the on-line credit card payment system) in order to reserve your place at the special rates we have negotiated. If you are unable to make payment by December 15th, please notify Paul Vita (vitap@slu.edu) to see if we can hold your place.

For questions about registrations and payments, contact Paul Vita (vitap@slu.edu).

The organising committee:
Joan Dicks, Holly Furneaux, Michael Hollington, Christine Huguet, Pierric Maelstaf, Peter Merchant, Florian Schweizer, Sara Thornton, Paul Vita, Catherine Waters