Getting to know Oxford

Today is the day before the start of the conference, with many attendees now arriving to greet the cool Oxford air and preparing for the exciting discourse on Emily Dickinson that is anticipated in the days ahead. I've taken to touring the city of Oxford to get a feel of what it is like to be a student here.
Just around the corner from my hotel on Broad Street is the Bodleian Library, considered the oldest in all of England. It is connected, via underground tunnels, to the new Bodleian Library, located across the street; and since it's comprised of closed stacks, it's rumored it can take a student up to six hours to request a book and finally receive it after its long journey through the underground tunnels of Oxford.

A few blocks up the street from the Bodleian Library is Keble College, the site of the Emily Dickinson International Society Conference. Many are greeted by the friendly porter checking them into conference housing, located on the quad next to the College chapel. The campus area is beautiful, and impressive in size.

As I continue my tour around Oxford, I'm happy to see there are many other literary sites to be encountered. I pass the small flat that Alice Liddell, greatly admired by Charles Dodgson (pen-name Lewis Carol), one rented. Once the inspiration of a classic adventure in "Wonderland," her previous home is now a shop which can be visited by Carol fans.

I was also fortunate to pass by The Eagle and Child (better known as The Bird and Baby), a famous pub often visited by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis in the 1930's, 40's and 50's. It's said that in June of 1950, C.S. Lewis distributed the proofs for The Lion, the With and the Wardrobe here.

Tomorrow morning the conference begins with an introduction by Nigel Bowles, Director of the Rothermere American Institute; Ron Bush, Drue Heinz Professor of American Literature at Oxford; and by Paul Crumbley and Cristanne Miller, EDIS conference directors. The full conference program is available online here; and we're all quite excited for the Emily Dickinson discussions to begin!

-Rebecca