Robert Graves’s true place in twentieth century literature and thought is increasingly seen as much more central than the relatively marginal status given to him in standard critical accounts. This conference aims to re-situate Graves in his era by examining the defining characteristics of his poetry, his influence on other poets and writers, and the relation of his work to crucial issues in the twentieth century. In so doing, it will interrogate the orthodox polarities implied by such terms as 'innovative', 'traditional', 'avant-garde', 'conservative', etc.

The conference marks an important event in Robert Graves studies – the arrival at St John’s College of a substantial archive from Graves’s home in Mallorca. Among the manuscripts and books in the bequest are a considerable body of late unpublished poems; the core of Graves’s library, including annotated copies of his own works; and over 10,000 letters, which testify to the extraordinary range of intellectual and artistic contacts that Graves maintained throughout his long and prolific writing life.

Call for Papers

Proposals are invited for papers (20–30 minutes) on relevant topics. These could include: Graves and Modernism; Graves and the ‘Thirties Generation’; Graves and Neo-romanticism; Graves and the Movement; Graves and Confessionalism; Graves and Irish poetry; Graves and Welsh poetry; poetic form; Graves, ‘close reading’ and New Criticism; the radicalism of Graves’s literary-critical, mythological or biblical studies; the reception of Graves’s work; Graves in anthologies; the concept of the ‘canon’; etc.

Please send an abstract (about 250 words) by 30 April 2008 to the conference organisers, Dunstan Ward (dunstanward@yahoo.com) and Patrick Villa (pjvilla@aol.com)

The conference is open to all. It will be of interest to academics, teachers, research students, and anyone who is interested in the life and writings of Robert Graves and his circle. Registrations should be received by 31 August 2008.

To register, please e-mail pjvilla@aol.com.