Prizes | Study and Travel Grants | Lecture
The Juliet McLauchlan Prize
The annual prize is awarded by the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) for an essay on any aspect of the works and/or life of Joseph Conrad. The prize is dedicated to the memory of Juliet McLauchlan, a much loved Conradian and the Society’s original and long-serving chair, by encouraging writing from new Conradians. The value of the prize is £200.
The essay competition is designed to foster work by new Conradians and emerging scholars, including undergraduates, postgraduates, and independent scholars of any age, subject to the proviso that entrants should not have held a full-time academic appointment for more than three years.
Essays must be original and between 5,000 and 7,000 words in length. The essay must be in English and should be typed double-spaced, and cannot have been previously published in any form. Entries for the 2025 competition should reach us by 31 May 2026. Send as an email attachment to Dr Hugh Epstein, or by post to Joseph Conrad Society, c/o POSK, 238-246 King St., London W6 0RF.
The award for 2025 went to Kevin O’Connor, a teacher and a PhD candidate at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, for his essay ‘From Principles to Pragmatism: Conrad, “Heart of Darkness,” and William James. This widely researched and detailed essay explored the pragmatic affinities between the novelist and the philosopher and, in so doing, made a significant addition to this under-investigated topic in current Conrad studies.
The Philip J. Conrad Memorial Lecture
Established in 2004, with funds from the Juliet and Mac McLauchlan Bequest, the Lecture honours the memory of the Society’s long-serving president, the late Philip J. Conrad (1924-2004), Conrad’s grandson.
Awarded every two years to a distinguished scholar, the occasion entails delivery of a lecture at a Society conference and, normally, publication in The Conradian. Nominations for lecturers may be made to the Executive Committee.
The Lecture has been given as follows:
- 2005 by Jacques Berthoud, Emeritus Professor, York University, who delivered his lecture on Nostromo at Amsterdam
- 2007 by J. H. Stape, Research Fellow in English, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, who spoke on Conrad and biography at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
- 2009 by Andrea White, Professor, California State University at Dominguez Hills, who spoke on Victory at the University Women’s Club, London
- 2011 by C. T. Watts, Research Professor, University of Sussex, who spoke on political and aesthetic aspects of “Heart of Darkness” at the University Women’s Club, London
- 2013 by Jeremy Hawthorn, Professor, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who spoke on “Joseph Conrad and the testimony of the senses” at the Rome conference
- 2015 by Laurence Davies, Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow, who spoke on ‘Conrad and Contingency’ at POSK for the London conference
- 2017 by Robert Hampson, Professor, Royal Holloway, University of London, who spoke on ‘Crossing Borders’ at the London conference, POSK
- 2019 by Allan H. Simmons, Professor, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, who spoke on ‘Conrad, My Conrad. But which is my Conrad?’ at the London conference, St Mary’s University
- 2023 by Agnieszka Adamowicz-Pośpiech Professor, University of Silesia, who spoke on ‘The Napoleonic Era in Conrad’s Work: Polish Perspectives’ at the London conference, POSK
- 2025 by John G. Peters, University Distinguished Professor at the University of North Texas, who spoke on “Free Will or Determinism in Conrad’s Cosmos?” at the Rome conference, Sapienza University.
Study and Travel Grants
The Joseph Conrad Society provides discretionary support for scholars and researchers not having access to other sources of funding to participate in the annual conference.
The Juliet McLauchlan Travel Grants are awarded to help scholars who have had their paper accepted for presentation at the Annual International Conference of the Joseph Conrad Society (U.K.). Full details of the 2026 award, and how to apply, may be found on the application form below.
Prizes, Study and Travel Grants, Archives
Past notices of study and travel grants may be accessed at the Prizes, Study and Travel Grants, Archives.
