[ Call for Papers ]

The Institute of History at the Jagiellonian University will host a conference "Writing Central Eastern Europe" devoted to travel writing on Central, Central Eastern and Eastern Europe. The conference will be held at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków on 11-12 June 2010. Deadline for submissions: January 15, 2010.

In his inspiring and provoking book, Larry Wolff analyses the invention of Eastern Europe in the time of the Enlightenment. The question is whether Eastern Europe as a concept existed earlier? What about the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first centuries? In what way can we perceive Eastern, versus Central Europe, versus Europe over time in history and where are their borders?

We are interested in papers on travel accounts, diaries, letters, travel journals and alike presenting the confrontation of travellers with the Polish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian and Baltic peoples and their territories throughout history. Since we do not define and do not want to define borders, papers on neighbouring regions (Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro) or indeed transregional travel accounts will also be considered.

Please send 300 word proposals of 20 minute presentations, with a short cv, to prof. Jakub Basista at basista@chello.pl by 15 January 2010. The selection and draft programme will be made by 31 January 2010.

Language of the conference will be English and there will be a conference fee of approximately 400 PLN (at present about 90 Euros). Regretfully, the organizers cannot provide assistance with travel expenses, although modest accommodation (three nights 10-13.06) and meals will be provided for speakers.

The organizers plan to publish a selection of conference papers.

Contact: prof. Jakub Basista.