Robert Lowell Society is inviting new papers on Robert Lowell, his work and his times, to be presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the American Literature Association, May 20–23, 2026 in Chicago.

As 2026 will be the centennial of W. D. Snodgrass’s birth (author of Heart’s Needle, a volume competing with Lowell’s for recognition as the founding text of confessionalism), we may prioritize papers problematizing or pushing against the orthodoxies of the history of confessional poetry or reading Lowell alongside/against less famous confessional or postconfessional poets. That said, we will welcome all new and original approaches to the poet and his world, as well as papers addressing any overlooked aspect of Lowell's work. 

Send a 300-word abstract for a 15- to 20-minute presentation to the Society’s Presidents, Calista McRae (mcrae@njit.edu) and Grzegorz Kosc (grzegorz.kosc@uw.edu.pl) by January 25, 2026.  

Include a short bio and let us know whether you would need AV equipment.

For further information or specific questions about the conference, please consult the ALA website at www.americanliteratureassociation.org.