CALL FOR PAPERS
Neo-Latin Epistolography
Sponsored by the American Association for Neo-Latin Studies (AANLS)
Organized by Patrick M. Owens, Hillsdale College.
The AANLS invites proposals for a panel of papers pertaining to the epistolary genre in Neo-Latin texts from around the world to be held at the annual meeting of the Society for Classical Studies (SCS) in Chicago, Illinois, January 7-10, 2021.
The rediscovery of Cicero’s private correspondence resulted in revival of the classical art of letter writing and renewed interest in the epistolary genre during the Renaissance. Humanists began to collect and publish their own letters, thus expanding the genre from the epistula familiaris to include almost every kind of literary work. Papers for this panel could explore personal correspondence, prefatory or dedicatory letters, letters of invective or defense, legal, scientific and technical communication, thematic considerations within letters, the literary structure of humanist epistolography itself, or the phenomenon of Latin letter-writing manuals. The panel organizers also welcome abstracts dealing with letters written in Greek in the Renaissance and early Modern Period (to about 1800).
Under the expansive theme of Neo-Latin epistolography, our intent is to illustrate the diversity and richness of Neo-Latin Studies; to underscore the importance of contemporary research in the complex, international phenomenon of Neo-Latin literature; and to give scholars an opportunity to share the results of their research and their methodologies with colleagues in the many disciplines that comprise Neo-Latin studies.
Abstracts should be sent (and arrive no later than midnight EST on Monday, February 24, 2020) to Patrick M. Owens, preferably electronically to patrickm.owens@gmail.com or by mail to Dr. Patrick M. Owens, Classics Department K-213, 33 E. College St., Hillsdale, MI 49242. Abstracts should be a maximum of 650 words (not including a brief bibliography).
In accordance with SCS regulations, three anonymous referees will read all abstracts. Please follow the instructions for the format of individual abstracts that appear on the SCS web site. In your cover letter or e-mail, please confirm that you are an SCS member in good standing, with dues paid through 2020.