Recent Events
Montpellier Conference, Ford Madox Ford and the Other, A Huge Success!
Photo by Gill GustarSara Haslam writes: The Ford conference this year was held in a warm and sunny Montpellier, at the Université Paul-Valéry, and was organised by Isabelle Brasme, with support from colleagues at the university. Over two days we heard about alterity, intimacy, Germany, and the historical other in Ford’s works. Friendship and war, reading and therapy, autobiography and divorce, combined in biographical and critical analyses, and in discussions which continued over the excellent lunches and dinners.
Robert Hampson’s keynote, ‘Touch and Intimacy in The Good Soldier and Parade’s End’, was a fascinating exploration of the abundance of touching, coded and intolerable intimacies in Ford’s most famous texts, and changed how many of those in the audience will think about those books. The event concluded with a showing of ‘It Was the Nightingale’, Paul Lewis’ documentary film about Ford. In an email thanking Isabelle I noted: ‘There were many other highlights, too numerous to mention, but I do want to say how perfect it now seems to have concluded by hearing Ford’s voice. His careful, novelistic observation was tangible, and directed with empathy towards a fellow human, royal (and therefore very much an ‘other’) subject.’ Isabelle and her team did a fantastic job of organising this professionally inspiring and convivial event.
Isabelle Brasme writes: The conference welcomed attendants from all over the world – the United States, New Zealand, Dubai, the UK, the Netherlands, as well as researchers from all over France. The topic of the other sparked a rich variety of interpretations: aspects of psychology and psychoanalysis led to narratological analyses; several papers explored Ford’s links with other authors and the way in which Ford’s relationships – literary and amorous – served as catalyst for his writing. The questions of World War One and trauma, of the historical Other, and of Ford as an alien in Germany, also provided opportunities for captivating talks. The Good Soldier and Parade’s End were at the heart of many a discussion; however, lesser-known works, such as A Little Less than Gods or Ford’s poetry, were also fruitfully analysed, as were Ford’s letters.
Robert Hampson delivered a stellar keynote lecture revisiting The Good Soldier and Parade’s End through the paradigms of touch and intimacy, which gave a new and illuminating perspective on Ford’s writing. Paul Lewis generously allowed us a wonderful afternoon in the company of Ford with his film It Was the Nightingale, which was the perfect conclusion to these two days spent reflecting on Ford as homo duplex.
As conference organiser, I would like to give my warmest thanks to the scientific committee; to my local colleagues who helped ensure a smooth running of the event; to the attendants of the conference for allowing these few days to sustain and enrich the 'passionate dialogue' between fellow Fordians. Lastly, I shall remain forever indebted to Robert, whose keynote lecture will endure in my mind as one of the most inspiring and thrilling moments in my life as a Fordie; a true illumination.
Sara Haslam writes: Gill Gustar, a PhD student at King’s College, London, wrote of the event “As a first-timer to a Ford conference I had high expectations, all of which were met. The quality of presentations and discussions which followed them were uniformly high. The conference administration wonderfully blended professionalism with the personal touch. More than anything though, I felt part of an engaged, supportive and international academic community.” Fiona Houston, also a PhD student, at Aberdeen, blogged afterwards “it was a lovely, intimate conference with lots of supportive people.” She found the talks fascinating and went away from Montpellier with a both a reading list and a set of notes longer than she knows what to do with. We look forward to seeing how the conversations develop, into print, or in other ways.
Thanks to Gill Gustar and Keith Barr for the photographs accompanying this write-up.
Robert Hampson’s keynote, ‘Touch and Intimacy in The Good Soldier and Parade’s End’, was a fascinating exploration of the abundance of touching, coded and intolerable intimacies in Ford’s most famous texts, and changed how many of those in the audience will think about those books. The event concluded with a showing of ‘It Was the Nightingale’, Paul Lewis’ documentary film about Ford. In an email thanking Isabelle I noted: ‘There were many other highlights, too numerous to mention, but I do want to say how perfect it now seems to have concluded by hearing Ford’s voice. His careful, novelistic observation was tangible, and directed with empathy towards a fellow human, royal (and therefore very much an ‘other’) subject.’ Isabelle and her team did a fantastic job of organising this professionally inspiring and convivial event.
Isabelle Brasme writes: The conference welcomed attendants from all over the world – the United States, New Zealand, Dubai, the UK, the Netherlands, as well as researchers from all over France. The topic of the other sparked a rich variety of interpretations: aspects of psychology and psychoanalysis led to narratological analyses; several papers explored Ford’s links with other authors and the way in which Ford’s relationships – literary and amorous – served as catalyst for his writing. The questions of World War One and trauma, of the historical Other, and of Ford as an alien in Germany, also provided opportunities for captivating talks. The Good Soldier and Parade’s End were at the heart of many a discussion; however, lesser-known works, such as A Little Less than Gods or Ford’s poetry, were also fruitfully analysed, as were Ford’s letters.
Robert Hampson delivered a stellar keynote lecture revisiting The Good Soldier and Parade’s End through the paradigms of touch and intimacy, which gave a new and illuminating perspective on Ford’s writing. Paul Lewis generously allowed us a wonderful afternoon in the company of Ford with his film It Was the Nightingale, which was the perfect conclusion to these two days spent reflecting on Ford as homo duplex.
As conference organiser, I would like to give my warmest thanks to the scientific committee; to my local colleagues who helped ensure a smooth running of the event; to the attendants of the conference for allowing these few days to sustain and enrich the 'passionate dialogue' between fellow Fordians. Lastly, I shall remain forever indebted to Robert, whose keynote lecture will endure in my mind as one of the most inspiring and thrilling moments in my life as a Fordie; a true illumination.
Sara Haslam writes: Gill Gustar, a PhD student at King’s College, London, wrote of the event “As a first-timer to a Ford conference I had high expectations, all of which were met. The quality of presentations and discussions which followed them were uniformly high. The conference administration wonderfully blended professionalism with the personal touch. More than anything though, I felt part of an engaged, supportive and international academic community.” Fiona Houston, also a PhD student, at Aberdeen, blogged afterwards “it was a lovely, intimate conference with lots of supportive people.” She found the talks fascinating and went away from Montpellier with a both a reading list and a set of notes longer than she knows what to do with. We look forward to seeing how the conversations develop, into print, or in other ways.
Thanks to Gill Gustar and Keith Barr for the photographs accompanying this write-up.
 |  Photo by Keith Barr |
Registered Charity No. 1084040 Disclaimer |