The Annual International Conference Archives
The Joseph Conrad Society has held an annual international conference since 1974. Information about the past few conferences is archived below. Programmes of earlier conferences are housed in the Society’s archives, which may be accessed upon request to the Honorary Secretary.
The 52nd Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 2 to 4 July 2025 Rome, Italy
The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) held its 52th Annual International Conference at Sapienza University, Rome, 2 – 4 July 2025
The 51st Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) London, 4 – 6 July 2024
The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) held its 51st Annual International Conference at POSK (the Polish Social and Cultural Organisation) in Hammersmith, London, and at the University Women’s Club, Mayfair 4 – 6 July 2025
Before the proceedings: Chandrakant Langare presents the Secretary, Hugh Epstein, with a portrait of Conrad, a gift from the artist, Mrs Manjiri More, from Maharashtra, India
Rapt audience: Sanjeev Kugunavar, Pooja Halyal, Vesudha Langare; Stephen Donovan, Mattia de Luca, Kevin O’Connor
Kevin Omosele; with Julie Gay, William Atkinson, Anthony Fothergill
Tania Zulli
Catherine Delesalle-Nancey
Well under way: Kevin Omosele, Nic Panagopoulos and Jack Peters; Allan Simmons steers with care
A pensive Michael Ross Engle
Our youngest participant, Andreas Panagopoulos
Chandrakant Langare, Riccardo Capoferro, Daphna Erdinast-Vulcan
Eugenia Maresch, Mark Deggan
Profiles: Katherine Baxter, Yael Levin, Nic Panagopoulos
Pooja Halyal
Modes of concentration: Debra Romanick Baldwin, Sanjeev Kugunavar, Robert Hampson
Jay Parker
Jack Peters looks down, Stephen Donovan looks up
Modes of attention: Sylwia Wojciechowska, Julie Gay, Daphna Erdinast-Vulcan, Brian Richardson
Boys on the boat: Mattia de Luca, Jamie Mellor
Lads afloat: 'tween decks with Matteo de Luca, Jamie Mellor and Kevin Omosele
Yes, we're going to do this: Kathryn Santanilla and Robert Hampson
No doubts: Marie-Agnes Gay and Daphna Erdinast-Vulcan
Full assent: Daphna's husband Achik and Catherine Delesalle-Nancey
Two Polish ladies take tea on the river: Agnieszka Adamowicz-Pospiech and Sylwia Wojciechowska
John Lester ascends to a higher plane while John Murphy makes a point to Hugh Epstein
William Atkinson and Yael Levin lulled by the tide
Julie Gay and Ellen Burton-Harrington have struck the smile of fortune
The smile of benignity becomes Andrew and Ann Francis
Meanwhile, above decks…
Hardy soul: Adam Lausch-Hołubowicz
No comment required
Yael Levin makes an announcement
Bright-eyed youth: Peter Villiers
Matched by Agnieszka Adamowicz-Pośpiech
Mirrored: a genial Allan Simmons
The Chair, Robert Hampson in full command. Part of Debra Romanick-Baldwin enquires
Kevin O’Connor
Modes of attention: Ellen Burton Harrington, Helen Chambers
Conference Secretary Kim Salmons among the books: University Women’s Club
John Murphy arrives just in time to give his talk
Sree Kumar
Heads: Riccardo Capoferro, Daphna Erdinast-Vulcan, Katherine Baxter, and a presiding gaze set in stone
Sylwia Wojciechowska makes a point, watched by the President, Laurence Davies. Brian Richardson and Joanna Skolik look on
Mark Deggan deliberates. Debra Romanick Baldwin and Laurence Davies find amusement
Gala Dinner: Mark Deggan makes a point, Anthony Fothergill finds amusement
The 50th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 6-8 July 2023
The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) held its 50th Annual International Conference at St Mary’s University, London 6 – 7 July plus one day at POSK in Hammersmith on 8 July 2023.
Let the jollity commence: Kim Salmons and Ellen Burton Harrington
Serious matters: Douglas Kerr, Sree Kumar, Jack Peters, Jim Ward, George Legg
The Waldegrave Drawing Room and delegates at their best in opening morning attentiveness
An Ning ponders
Modes of contemplation: Debra Romanick Baldwin and Sylwia Wojciechowska
Modes of concentration: Robert Hampson and Andrew Francis
An inner smile: Debra Romanick Baldwin
Allan Simmons
Douglas Kerr
Some form of entreaty: Hugh Epstein
Prayers answered: Hugh Epstein, Debra Romanick Baldwin, Douglas Kerr
On the other hand: Ellen Burton Harrington, Nic Panagopoulos, Chris Cairney
Foregoing the inviting evening sun on the St Mary’s running track: Tania Zulli, Yael Levin, Anna Szczepan-Wojnarska, Katherine Baxter, Kim Salmons
Yes, a little chilly: Agnieszka Adamowicz-Pośpiech, Andrew and Ann Francis, Chris Cairney
The next morning and foremost amongst us: Mattia De Luca, Pat Pye, Chris Cairney, Adam Lausch-Hołubowicz, Katherine Baxter, Yael Levin
Modes of reflection: An Ning, Allan Simmons
At the mic: Robert Hampson
Riccardo Capoferro
William Atkinson
Chris Cairney
Debra Romanick Baldwin, Helen Chambers, Jay Parker
Joanna Skolik, Nic Panagopoulos, Chris Cairney, Ellen Burton Harrington
The morning concludes with the general approbation of these good gentlemen: Douglas Kerr, Andrew Francis, Brian Richardson, Jack Peters, John Lester
Still jolly: unsuspecting conference participants await the rigours of the R68 bus service
And best foot forward, undaunted: George Legg, Ellen Burton Harrington, Brygida Pudełko, Adam Lausch-Hołubowicz, Hugh Epstein
Under the gates of Hampton Court Palace
Gala Dinner: our host, Kim Salmons
The Italian connection: Riccardo Capoferro and Tania Zulli
Cheerful conference participants gathered around Keith Carabine
Saturday at POSK: Jack Peters
Sylwia Wojciechowska and Nic Panagopoulos
Mark Deggan
Ésprit fort: Genia Maresch
Quick confab: Robert Hampson and Douglas Kerr
Up on the roof: Helen Chambers, Agnieszka Adamowicz-Pośpiech, Imen Chemengui
Unseemly hilarity in the pizzeria: Tania Zulli, William Atkinson, Katherine Baxter, Kim Salmons, Ellen Burton Harrington, Yael Levin
Agnieszka Adamowicz-Pośpiech prepares to give the Philip Conrad Memorial Lecture
Table at the POSK dinner
The other table
Amicable conversation before the dancing: Jamie Mellor, Brygida Pudełko, Genia Maresch, Hunt Hawkins
Up for a dance after all that? Ellen Burton Harrington, Kim Salmons, Tania Zulli
Not so sure: Jay Parker casts a sceptical eye on Mark Deggan, Hugh Epstein, Allan Simmons
The last delegate makes it back to the ancestral home
The 49th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 15 to 17 September 2022
We regret that we had to withdraw from our venue in Chieti, Italy.
This was an online conference.
The 48th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 8-10 July 2021
Virtual conference via Zoom meeting.
The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) held a three-day virtual conference on all aspects of the works of Joseph Conrad.
The 47th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 25 to 27 August 2020
The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) held a three-day virtual conference on all aspects of the life and works of Joseph Conrad. To accommodate our international membership, the conference consisted of one three-hour session per day, delivered via Zoom meeting.
Zoom recordings of the conference:
The 46th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 5-7 July 2019
The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 46th Annual International Conference was held at two venues in London.
The sessions of 5 and 6 July 2019 were held at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, TW1 4SX, the session of 7 July 2019 was held at the University Women’s Club, 2 Audley Square, Mayfair, London W1K 1DB.
Stealthy set-up: Robert Hampson and Mark Deggan
Kim Salmons, Conference Organiser, addresses assembled multitudes in the Waldegrave Drawing Room
Rapt audience of worthies
Effervescence I: An Ning
Daniel Vogel, Jim Ward, Adam Lausch-Hołubowicz
Allan Simmons gives the Philip Conrad Memorial Lecture
Effervescence II: Tania Zulli
Okay so far: Matthew Asprey Gear
Blue harmonies: William Atkinson and Mark Deggan in the Senior Common Room
Chris Sinclair points to a fine Conradian evening in Glasgow
Agnes Adamowicz-Pośpiech acquaints Conrad with his life in Poland today
The Chairman in jolly mood
Discussions on the lawn: Ellen Burton-Harrington and Jay Parker; Mark Bordeau examines his shoes
Jim Ward and David Prickett
Effervescence III: Ellen Burton-Harrington
Expectant audience for thespian capers
Impressario, auteur, Gentleman Brown: Peter Villiers
Jewel and Jim find it a bit of a laugh: Kim Salmons and Hugh Epstein
Gala Dinner in the Waldegrave Drawing Room
Richard Niland tries to sort it out
Kazumichi Enokida
Welcome break: Brygida Pudelko, Kaoru Yamamoto, Yan Li
John Lester looks on while Agnes Adamowicz-Pośpiech takes snaps on Hungerford Bridge
Face in the crowd: Daniel Vogel on Hungerford Bridge
Katherine Baxter explains to Yael Levin just how Conrad would have loaded those lighters
Sly fox: Peter Villiers
Girls abroad: Ellen Burton-Harrington, An Ning, Kim Salmons, Tania Zulli
Old and new: Essex barge, gentrified warehouses, Tower Bridge, the Shard
Simla Dogangun and Övgü Tüzün
Studious audience in the Drawing Room of the University Women’s Club
Scholars in the Library I: Stephen Donovan and Keith Carabine
Scholars refreshed: Cedric Watts and Allan Simmons
Scholars in the Library II: William Atkinson and Robert Hampson
Scholars in the Library III: Kaoru Yamamoto and Arati Banerjea
Riccardo Capoferro
Andy Purssell remembers Mr Jones
Matthew Asprey Gear pursues Orson Welles to Surinam
Andrew Francis supplicates on behalf of the coaling stations of Empire
Jay Parker
Scholars in the Library IV: Seolji Han and Yan Li
Scholars in the limelight: Robert Hampson and Andrew Francis
Andrew Quick on producing ‘Heart of Darkness’
Farewell dinner at the University Women’s Club with some usual suspects
Farewell dinner at the University Women’s Club 2
‘It was all right, wasn’t it?’ Yes, Kim!
The 45th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 5 – 7 July 2018
The 45th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (U.K.), 5 – 7 July 2018, was held at Writtle University College, Chelmsford, Essex.
Kim Salmons, smiling conference secretary
Hugh Epstein, secretary, raking in the cash
Oh yes, we’re up for it: Anthony Fothergill
Plenty of jokes in Conrad: Jeremy Hawthorn and Laurence Davies
Debra Romanick Baldwin and Yael Levin
The chairman, Robert Hampson
Lecture theatre and early morning audience
Ewa Kujawska-Lis
Masts, shrouds and stays, and some striding Conradians
Is the chairman having second thoughts?
No doubts for this group of tars
John Lester offers the sun block
An Ning and Agnes Adamowicz-Pospiech
Kim Salmons, William Atkinson, Trevor Ruck
Mark Deggan, sailor
Chairman firmly in command
Trevor Ruck, Nic Panagopoulos, Anthony Fothergill: under instruction
Daniel Vogel, sitting; Paul, our skipper, standing
Sam, the mate: ropes, pulleys and cleats
Several years before the mast: Tim Middleton and Hugh Epstein
The Windlass Ayse Deniz Temiz and the windlass of the Thistle (1895), sister ship To the Hydrogen
Gala dinner: our host Tim Middleton looks doubtful; not so Pat Pye, Andrea Fenice, Yasuko Shidara
Johan Warodell and Nic Panagopoulos (rear view)
Jollity all round, especially from Simla Dogangun
Hull down and farewell!
The 44th Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) 7–9 July 2017
The Joseph Conrad Society’s 2017 Annual Conference was held at POSK (the Polish Social and Cultural Organisation) in Hammersmith, London, and at the University Women’s Club, Mayfair, from Friday 7th July to Sunday 9th July, 2017.