THS Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL THOMAS HARDY CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL

Dorchester, Dorset, UK

July 25th—August 1st 2026

Paper proposals are welcome on any aspect of Hardy’s life, work, and legacy for the Twenty-Seventh International Hardy Conference and Festival. Significant Hardy anniversaries in 2026 include the 150th anniversary of The Hand of Ethelberta, the 140th anniversary of The Mayor of Casterbridge, the 120th anniversary of The Dynasts (Part 2), and the 110th anniversary of Selected Poems. Proposals for papers on any of these anniversary texts are especially welcome.

Papers should be planned for delivery times of a maximum of 20 minutes (approximately 2000 words).

Like its predecessors, the 2026 Conference is designed to appeal both to Hardy scholars and to general readers. We invite proposals from established scholars, Hardy enthusiasts, early-career researchers, independent scholars, and postgraduate students. Postgraduate students may be eligible for bursaries to help defray conference expenses. Confirmed plenary speakers include Jacqueline Dillion, Roger Ebbatson, Trish Ferguson, Mark Ford, Richard Franklin, and Jackie Walker. Lectures and conference papers will be supplemented by excursions and entertainments relating to the local context which Hardy’s work celebrates, and from which it emerged.

Proposals (absolute maximum 300 words) should be sent by email to Dr Mary Rimmer at mrimmer@unb.ca. Each must be accompanied by a short biographical note (75 words or less) in a separate document file. These notes will not be consulted during the vetting process but will be used by panel chairs to introduce speakers during the conference.

All submissions will be read and adjudicated by an academic panel. The closing date is 16 January 2026. Papers given at the Conference may be considered for publication in the peer-reviewed Thomas Hardy Journal appearing in Autumn 2026.

Please note that all submissions will be acknowledged: if the submission is not acknowledged within four business days, the proposer should re-send.