The ‘Battle of the Books’ and the European Republic of Letters

Programme

The Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies, University of Kent, in collaboration with the Agon: La Dispute research project, VALE-Paris-Sorbonne

Speakers: Marcus Walsh, University of Liverpool (keynote); Sylvie Lafon, Paris VIII; Martine Pécharman, CNRS; Henry Power, University of Exeter ; Alexis Tadié, Paris-Sorbonne; Stéphane Van Damme, Sciences Po, Paris; Sophie Vasset, Paris-Diderot; Paddy Bullard, University of Kent

This one-day colloquium focuses on the British quarrel between the ‘Ancients’ and ‘Moderns’, depicted most memorably by Jonathan Swift in ‘The Battle of the Books’ (1704). Its purpose is to investigate connections between the British quarrellers and their European counterparts – as readers, correspondents, translators and adversaries. One consequence of the international character of this controversy is that its themes and preoccupations are transformed when the exchanges cross national boundaries. The papers at this colloquium chart these shifts, and describe the cultural machinery (journalism, correspondence, print) through which they were mediated. Click here to download the poster of the even and here for the full schedule. 

Attendance is free, but numbers are limited: for registration contact Paddy Bullard: p.s.bullard@kent.ac.uk.