CFP: Jane Austen Then & Now: A One-Day Symposium on Jane Austen’s Legacy
To celebrate Austen's 250th anniversary
Date: 16 December 2025
Location: „Яйцето“ / The Egg Hall
Organised by: Department of English and American Studies, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski
More than two centuries after her novels delighted readers, Jane Austen has transcended her status as the author of one of the most beloved novels to become a global icon. Known only as “a Lady” during her lifetime, as she published her work anonymously, Jane Austen’s name has today become a symbol of cultural capital. As Devoney Looser notes in her foreword to the volume Jane Austen After 200: New Reading Spaces (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023), edited by Kerry Sinanan, Annika Bautz, and Daniel Cook, “We’re in a moment well situated to reflect, assess, and deliberate on the meanings of Jane Austen over time—then, now, and in-between,” emphasising the volume’s aim to show how Austen is remembered and constructed today by diverse audiences in ways that connect to Austen’s historical context and our shared present (vi). Indeed, the rich conversation continues to grow with the publication of new scholarly editions of Austen’s literary works and innovative interpretations of her writing, which aim to broaden our understanding of her legacy and her enduring popularity among readers of all ages, from diverse geographical and ethnic backgrounds.
To mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, the Department of English and American Studies at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski will host a one-day conference. Jane Austen: Then & Now invites scholars, students, and Austen enthusiasts to explore the many facets of her work and influence.
Confirmed plenary speakers:
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Professor Ludmilla Kostova, PhD (St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria)
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Associate Professor Vitana Kostadinova, PhD (Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Call for Papers (deadline extended to 5 December 2025):
We welcome proposals that consider Austen’s legacy within historical, literary, and cultural contexts. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
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- Austen’s Literary Legacy & Dialogues
- Austen’s novels in context
- Austen’s engagement with her contemporaries
- Austen’s stylistic innovations in narrative voice, irony, and characterisation
- Austen’s influence on later writers
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Global Austen
- International readerships and translations
- Adaptations and reinterpretations across cultures
- Austen’s place in world literature
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Adaptations and Afterlives
- Austen biopics
- Film and television adaptations of Austen’s novels
- Modernised retellings and alternative-history re-imaginings
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Austen in the Classroom
- Pedagogical approaches to teaching Austen’s works
Submission Guidelines"
Please submit an abstract of 250–300 words for a 15 to 20-minute presentation along with a brief bio to
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We encourage proposals from early-career scholars, graduate students, independent researchers, and established academics.
Important Dates:
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Abstract submission extended deadline: 5 December 2025
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Notification of acceptance: 10 December 2025
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Conference date: 16 December 2025
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