CALL FOR ESSAYS

A Cultural History of Shoes (Non European Essays)

Peter McNeil (University of New South Wales) and Giorgio Riello (LSE & V&A) have been asked by the UK-based publisher Berg to be the editors of a new volume in fashion studies entitled A Cultural History of Shoes. Publication is envisaged by early 2005.

OUTLINE

This collection of essays aims at providing the first academic survey of the role footwear played in ancient, early modern, modern and post-modern societies. The focus of the book is the historical analysis of cultural attributes, social values and personal meanings of shoes. The volume will include essays ranging from footwear and women in ancient Greece to sweatshops and the power of big trainers’ brands in the 21st century.

Following an initial call for essays early this year, we are looking for essays on non-European footwear in any period between 1500 and 2000.

Essays should be c. 5000 words in length (excluding bibliography) with a maximum 500 words as Notes/References. Illustrations are welcomed particularly if they are the author's own copyright.

Abstracts (200-300 words) should be sent no later than 4 May 2004 to Peter McNeil via email. For informal enquiries, please contact Giorgio Riello via email. Accepted articles are due for submission on 1 November 2004.