General theme: “Lord Byron and His Times”
June 20-24, 2011
Messolonghi Byron Society – Byron Research Center

The Messolonghi Byron Research Center solicits 20-minute papers for this conference to be held June 20 – 24, 2011.
The Seventh International Student Byron Conference will center on the broad topic of “Lord Byron and His Times”, and will particularly welcome proposals concerned with aspects of Whig society, Regency publishing, Philhellenism and the Greek Revolution, Byron’s portrayal of his times in prose or poetry, and his public or personal image as presented in the media and in contemporary memoirs and biographical writings. One-page abstracts should be sent to Peter W. Graham, Director of International Affairs for the Messolonghi Byron Center (pegraham@vt.edu, preferably with a subject line “Student Byron Conference”), by 15 January 2011.
The keynote speaker will be David McClay, Curator of the John Murray Archive containing Byron’s manuscripts and many other literary treasures at the National Library of Scotland. A tentative itinerary for the conference will shortly be available on the website of the Messolonghi Byron Society (http://www.messolonghibyronsociety.gr).
Detailed descriptions of the six previous international student conferences can be found on the Messolonghi Byron Society’s web page.

During the conference, there will be abundant opportunities to learn about Greek life through first-hand experience. There will be a welcoming reception with dinner, singing, and traditional dancing, along with visits to historic and archaeological sites and museums of Messolonghi and its area associated with Byron in particular and more generally with the historical and cultural heritage of Greece. Participants will also enjoy a wonderful sailing experience and a traditional ouzo-meze at the fishermen’s base on the historic lagoon isle of Vassiladi [Agios Sostis], where Byron landed in January 5, 1824 and from whence his remains left on the ship ‘Florida” via Zakynthos to England in May 1824, a visit to the picturesque seaside village Krioneri (“cold water”), and a fishing-boat excursion to visit a very old medieval cave-church, Agios Nikolaos, clinging to the side of Mount Varassova.
A 600-euro per person conference fee will provide conference registration, and five nights with half board [breakfast and lunch] at the Theoxenia Hotel by the Messolonghi lagoonside. There will be a 100-euro surcharge for single accommodations. Airfare to Greece is additional and should be arranged individually. Participants will also need to arrange for their own way from Athens to Messolonghi and from Messolonghi back to Athens or elsewhere.
Please direct questions regarding the practical details of the conference to Mrs. Rosa Florou, Director of the Messolonghi Byron Research Center, at byronlib@teimes.gr. Questions regarding academic matters should go to Peter Graham at pegraham@vt.edu.

Please note the following with regard to transportation from Athens to Messolonghi:
— On arriving at Athens airport, you will need about 45 to 65 minutes [depends on the traffic] to get to Kifissos bus station, where you can catch a bus for Messolonghi. If you prefer a taxi from El. Venizelos Airport to Kifissos Station, the cost will be about 40 euros, but you must be very careful of the taxi drivers. Sometimes they attempt to charge more to tourists.
The airport bus to Kifissos, X93, leaves every 35 minutes from just outside the airport exit door. The fare from the airport to Kifissos is about 3, 20 euros. You buy the ticket from the bus driver and then cancel it yourself in a machine there on the bus.
For your information the website of the Urban Athens Transportation is: www.oasa.gr
At Kifissos station you’ll buy your ticket (about 19 euros one-way) at the front big hall at the desk which has a label “to Aitoloakarnania ” (the name of the county). Ask for the bus to Messolonghi, which runs at 6 am, 7:45 am, 9 am, 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 14:00 pm, 14:30 pm, 17:00 pm, 19:00 pm, 20:00 pm, and 21:30 pm.
The 3.00-hour bus trip from Athens follows a scenic route along the south coast of the Gulf of Corinth and Patras, through a mountainous Peloponesian landscape of olive and lemon trees, crossing back to the north coast by the new suspension bridge “Harilaos Trikoupis” that connects Rio and Antirio. The bus from Kifissos terminates just outside of the Gate of Messolonghi.
On arriving in Messolonghi, you’ll have a 5-minute taxi ride to the Theoxenia Hotel.