International symposium, St. John’s College, Oxford, 13-15 September 2010
Convenors: Carolin Duttlinger, Manfred Engel, Katrin Kohl, Ritchie Robertson
The First World War, often called the »Urkatastrophe« of the twentieth century, changed Kafka’s life, as it did everybody’s. The famous diary entry for 2 August 1914 – »Germany has declared war on Russia. Went swimming in the afternoon« – gives an impression of detachment which is entirely misleading, as this conference will aim to show.
We envisage the symposium as having three concentric circles: 1) the historical context, recreated with the help of historians of Central Europe; 2) the Prague literary circle and its contacts with Czech-language culture; 3) Kafka and his works, especially those produced in the Alchimistengässchen.
Programme of the conference: www.kafka-research.ox.ac.uk/activities/06kafka_Worldwar.php
(Papers will be given in English and German)
Conference venue: New Seminar Room, St. John’s College
Conference fee (for guests): £ 20 (reduced fee for students: £ 10)