This Conference marks the 180th anniversary of Thomas Hardy's birth. Confirmed lecturers include Gillian Beer, Pamela Gilbert, Michael Irwin, Richard Nemesvari and Gregory Tate. Lectures and conference papers will be supplemented by a wide variety of excursions and entertainments relating to the local context which Hardy’s work celebrates, and from which it emerged. Paper proposals (max 300 word) are welcome on any aspect of Hardy’s life, work and legacy. Papers should be planned for delivery times of a maximum of 20 minutes (approximately 2000 words). Proposals should be sent by email to Dr Mary Rimmer at mrimmer@unb.ca or by post to: 'Call for Papers' (Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival) Dr Mary Rimmer, Department of English, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, Canada  E3B 5A3.

All submissions will be read and adjudicated by an academic panel.  The closing date is  15 January 2020. The best of the papers given at the Conference will be considered for publication in the peer-reviewed Thomas Hardy Journal appearing in Autumn 2020. Please note that all submissions will be acknowledged: if email submissions are not acknowledged within four business days, the proposer should re-send.