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‘Unforgettable, Unforgotten? Continuing the recovery of Scottish women writers, c.1880-1940’ Day Seminar and Roundtable.

Despite being a “fixed star in the literary firmament” of Scotland, writers like Annie S. Swan, Anna Buchan, Nan Shepherd, Catherine Carswell, and Willa Muir have only very recently received renewed academic attention and public recognition. Though very different writers with different perspectives and upbringings, they contributed interesting and complex work that both challenged and defined the prevailing literary criticism of Scotland during a period of significant political, social, and cultural change. Despite this, their influence on the reading public has largely been obliterated from academic and public knowledge.

Building on edited collections that recover Scottish women’s writing, this seminar seeks to continue the discussion around the recovery and reconceptualization of modern Scottish women writers. Taking inspiration from ‘Unforgettable, Unforgotten’ – the title of prolific Scottish author Anna Buchan’s 1945 autobiography – the seminar will hear papers from scholars who are investigating and exploring overlooked, marginalised, or ‘forgotten’ Scottish women writers between 1880 and 1940.

Roundtable, ‘Continuing the recovery of Scottish women writers, c.1880-1940’

16.45pm-17.30pm

Following the short papers, a roundtable discussion will take place featuring scholars working on in the field of Scottish literature and on the recovery of Scottish women writers. Chaired by Dr Alison Jack (School of Divinity, New College, University of Edinburgh), our roundtable guests will be Prof Glenda Norquay (Liverpool John Moore University), Prof Juliet Shields (University of Washington), Dr Valentina Bold (Crichton Trust), Dr Scott Lyall (Edinburgh Napier University) and Dr Kate Mathis (University of Glasgow).

Watch the recording of the event