The theme for this year's study day is 'People who were important in George Eliot's life'.

The heritage centre will open at 9:30am to enable guests to have a drink before the talks begin and there will be a break for lunch after the second speaker.

 

Jane Robinson - Barbara Bodichon

Jane is a Senior Associate of Somerville College, Oxford who specialises in social history through women's eyes. Jane has written 13 books and her latest book, Trailblazer is a biography of Barbara Bodichon, close friend of George Eliot and co-founder of Girton College.

 

Joanne Shattock - Margaret Oliphant & John Blackwood

Joanne is Emeritus Professor at the University of Leicester and a longstanding member and supporter of the Fellowship. Joanne has co-edited a major 25 volume edition of Margaret Oliphant and her knowledge of the Long Nineteenth Century makes her an ideal speaker on John Blackwood.

 

 Break for lunch

 Valerie Fehlbaum - D'Albert Durade

Valerie is an Oxford graduate who lectured at the University of Geneva. Valerie organised a bicentenary conference in Geneva  for the Fellowship in 2018. Her knowledge of Geneva and love of George Eliot will give us a wonderful insight into D'Albert Durade.

 

 John Burton - The Brays & Hennells

John has been chairman of the Fellowship since 2006. He is hoping to publish later this year an edited selection of the Journal of Alison Evans, great-niece of George Eliot. John's paper will outline some of the influences on Mary Ann Evans from Charles and Cara Bray.