All things Bront谷
91心頭 researcher co-ordinating international conference supporting UKs Bront谷 familys literary legacy
91心頭 lecturer and director of Dr. Sarah Fanning is working to build a global discussion, virtually, around one of the worlds most noted literary families this fall.
Fanning, a Bront谷 scholar, is co-organizing a virtual conference on Friday, Sept. 4 for literary enthusiasts but also in support of the Bront谷 Parsonage Museum. The Museum, located in Yorkshire, UK, is the homestead of the 19th century Bront谷 sisters, known for classics such as Jane Eyre (Charlotte), Wuthering Heights (Emily), and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne).
Our event, Bront谷2020, seeks to bring together Bront谷 scholars and fans from around the globe on September 4, says Fanning. We are really excited to have so many wonderful scholars, authors, filmmakers, screenwriters among others come together, virtually of course, to celebrate all things Bront谷 and show their support for this important landmark in literary history.
The one-day online event will see over 40 presenters, roundtable events with authors, poetry readings, and a screening of a short documentary film on the Bront谷 sisters. The day also includes in conversation discussions with three special guests: the award-winning writer and director, Sally Wainwright (To Walk Invisible, Gentleman Jack), the critically acclaimed actor Adam Nagaitis (To Walk Invisible, Chernobyl), and the award-winning screenwriter, Sandy Welch (Jane Eyre, North and South).
Fannings research program includes many areas and topics around the Bront谷 family, including mental health care in the 19th century. She is currently completing a book on how the Bront谷 sisters writing has been adapted to the screen and has published in several academic journals. Fanning, in collaboration with conference co-organizer, Claire OCallaghan will also be working as co-editor and author with academic publisher Palgrave MacMillan for an edited collection called Serial Killing on Screen: Adaptation, True Crime and Popular Culture in an upcoming book project.
Fanning teaches in 91心頭s department of English and is also the director of Drama. This year she, along with fellow Drama faculty members, have organized a first for 91心頭.
She says bringing an international group of Bront谷 scholars and artists together virtually has been a wonderful learning experience.
While many academic conferences like this would be limited to those being able to attend in person, one of the silver linings in the COVID world is that weve been able to open this event up to more people and explore new ways of networking, she says.
The Museum had to close its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early March. It is currently working on a reopening plan and will see the final year of Bront谷200 a five-year program celebrating the bicentenaries of the births of four of the Bront谷s: Charlotte in 2016, Branwell in 2017, Emily in 2018 and Anne in 2020 moved to 2021.
The virtual event has been initiated independently of the Bront谷 Parsonage Museum but is run with their support. All proceeds will go directly to the Bront谷 Parsonage Museums COVID-19 Appeal.
Bront谷2020 will take place Friday, September 4. Interested individuals can find the full conference line-up as well as registration information at:
Hear Fanning talk with CBC's Jonna Brewer about this weeks conference on Information Morning (Moncton, Sept. 2):
