Lawrence Durrell: A Writer at the Crossroads
of Arts and Sciences

July 1st - 5th, 2008
Université Paris X - Nanterre
CREE (CREA EA 370)

In partnership with the l'Université Toulouse Le Mirail,
l'Université Paris XII, Louisiana Tech University,
University of Victoria, University of Arkansas, and the
International Lawrence Durrell Society

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the
fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true arts and science."
Albert Einstein, "What I believe" 1930

The aim of this conference is to explore Lawrence Durrell's universe at the crossroads of arts and science, but also to investigate the world of Paris between the wars as the artistic and intellectual magnet that drove so many artists to become expatriates.

The sessions will focus on the relationships between Durrell's works and the aesthetic context as well as the development of scientific research. Contributions dealing with the Parisian intellectual and artistic crucible, the arts of politics, artistic intertextuality (drama, music, painting, philosophy), the scientific fabric (Durrell's investigations into quantum theory and psychoanalysis) are particularly welcome. But other proposals on wider fields will be examined as well.

Submissions for papers including a 250-word abstract, a short biography, and possibly a bibliography, as well as any request for specific material (recorder, videoprojector or other) should be sent by March 15th, 2008 (extended) to:

(email submissions)
Durrellconference2008@u-paris10.fr

(postal submissions)
    Corinne Alexandre-Garner
    UFR Anglo-Americaine
    Université Paris X
    200 Avenue de la Rèpublique, 92001
    Nanterre, France.

Plenary sessions will be organized every morning until approximately 1 p.m. and will be followed by relevant cultural events in Paris in the afternoon. At night, a wide range of entertainment and typical cuisine will be available. There will be a banquet on a cruise of the Seine.

In the year following the conference, a selection of the best papers will be published in the new Lawrence Durrell collection by the Presses Universitaires Paris 10.

Also see: http://anglais.u-paris10.fr/spip.php?article1090