Fwd: Leavis at York

'Leavis at York'
15th to 16th October, 2010

'Levis at York' - a conference and exhibition -
forms part of a major reappraisal of F. R. Leavis,
the most controversial literary critic of his time and
one of the most important intellectual figures of the
20th century.
Leavis's later writings are especially associated
with York, where he held a visiting professorship
for twelve years following his retirement from
Cambridge.
The conference follows on from the one held at
Cambridge last year at which Leavis's concept of
the 'anti-philosophical' nature of literature was
discussed by philosophers and critics, including
Simon Blackburn, Michael Tanner and Stefan
Collini.
Recent work has revealed the extent to which
Leavis had thought his way through many of the
issues which have presented themselves as new to
more recent generations of scholars and students.
His ghost, says Richard Storer in a recent book,
still has "the power to disturb and challenge".
Speakers will include Professor John Sutherland
on 'The legacy of F. R. Leavis' (public lecture),
Professor Jeremy Tambling 'Remembering F. R.
Leavis', Professor John Roe on the Leavis letters at
York, Professor William Baker on updating the
Leavis bibliography. Papers also by Edward
Greenwood, Michael Caines, David Gervais,
Heward Wilkinson, Peter Sharrock, Jonathan
Brockbank and Steven Cranfield. The recently
discovered Leavis-Brockbank letters will be
available for perusal.

                    * * * * * *
The Vice-Chancellor will hold a reception before re-
naming the renovated Langwith College former
library room as The F. R. Leavis Room in memory
of his distinguished presence at the University. An
exhibition of Leavis portraits done by photographer
Paul Joyce will be on display - one in the series is
now in the possession of the National Portrait
Gallery. The conference will be held in the
acclaimed Berrick Saul Building.

'I hope the conference will be a great success'.
John Coetzee

Conference contact: Dr Chris Joyce at:
[email protected]
Website:
http://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/public-lectures/autumn-term-2010/fr-leavis,-lecture/