California

40th Annual Dickens Universe: David Copperfield & Iola Leroy

Festivals, Misc.

Literature

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History

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Immerse yourself in the world of 19th-Century literature and learn about the authors through lectures, group discussions, and Victorian events at the 40th annual Dickens Universe.

Rating (5)

Activity Level

Program No. 4650RJ

Length

7 days

Starts at

1,049

7 days

6 nights

17 meals

6B 5L 6D

Santa Cruz, CA

At a Glance

The Dickens Universe is an annual gathering of scholars, teachers and members of the general public who share a love of Dickens’s novels and his era. In 2020, the Dickens Universe will pair one of the best-known novels of Dickens, 'David Copperfield,' with the most famous of all nineteenth-century African-American novels, Frances E. W. Harper’s 'Iola Leroy'. Reflections on how personal histories of coming of age play out through and against the mysteries and brutalities of history; confrontations with the claims of familial and community loyalties, as these come to be fractured, exposed, and reconfigured: through these and other ways of reading, Universe participants will explore what happens when the novels of these two extraordinary novelists, reformers, orators, poets, and journalists are brought into conversation. The festive week-long program includes lectures by distinguished scholars, small seminars, films, teas, and Victorian dancing. Enrollment is limited. Register early!

Activity Level

On Your Feet

Walking up to a mile or more each day on a hilly terrain between apartment, dining facilities and lecture rooms. Classrooms, dining and lecture halls are all accessible via ramps or elevators. The apartments are not equipped with elevators.

Best of all, you'll ...

Explore 'David Copperfield' and 'Iola Leroy' in small discussion groups and lectures by distinguished international faculty.
Enjoy afternoon tea served by the Friends of the Dickens Project.
Immerse yourself in the world of Dickens at a grand party and an evening of Victorian dancing.

Featured Expert

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John O. Jordan

John Jordan is a research professor of literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the director of The Dickens Project. His primary research interests include Victorian literature and culture, Charles Dickens and narrative theory. John is the author of "Supposing Bleak House" and co-editor, with Robert Patten and Catherine Waters, of the "Oxford Handbook of Charles Dickens."

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

John O. Jordan

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Mark Gordon

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Ryan Fong

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7 days

6 nights

17 meals

6 B 5 L 6 D

DAY

Registration, RS event, dinner. Evening lecture, then film.

Santa Cruz, CA

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

Activity note: Registration at Cowell and Stevenson Colleges. Temporary parking is available for registration, then your car must be moved to a Conference lot. Assistance is available for those needing help with luggage. Apartments do not have elevators.The Dickens Universe is different in that you will be attending a conference that includes other members of the general public, academics, and students from UCSC. We don't set you apart as a group and you attend the activities with the other participants.

Afternoon: Registration 2-4 p.m. Welcome and Orientation 4:15 p.m.

Dinner: Dinner 6:15 p.m.-7:00 p.m. All meals are cafeteria-style at the nearby Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall. Menu items change daily, but there is always a variety of vegetarian items, including a salad bar. There is also the ever-popular soft-serve ice cream.

Evening: Post-Prandial Potations 7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m.; Lecture 7:45 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Film screening 9:15 p.m.-11:15 p.m.

DAY

Full day of lectures. Sale, evening lecture, film.

Santa Cruz, CA

B,L,D

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

Activity note: Walking up to a mile around campus throughout the day between apartment, dining facilities and lecture rooms. Classrooms, dining and lecture halls are all accessible via ramps or elevators. Cowell and Stevenson Colleges are built on an incline, and there are stairs and ramps to navigate between buildings.

Breakfast: Breakfast is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Morning: Faculty-led discussion groups 9:00 p.m.-9:45 a.m. Plenary lecture 10:00 p.m.-11:15 a.m. Grad student-led workshops on novel 11:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Lunch: Lunch is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Afternoon: Dickensian seminar for those who want to keep discussing, and repeat film screening, 1:45 p.m.-3:00 p.m.; Victorian Tea 3:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Afternoon talk 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Optional "Deciphering Dickens" research project, and optional Victorian dance lessons 5:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Dinner: Dinner cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Evening: Post-prandial potations 7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m., along with book and t-shirt sales; lecture 7:45 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Film screening 9:15 p.m.-11:15 p.m.

DAY

Another full day-schedule roughly same as Mon.

Santa Cruz, CA

B,L,D

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

Activity note: Walking up to a mile around campus throughout the day between apartment, dining facilities and lecture rooms. (See notes from Monday.)

Breakfast: Breakfast is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Morning: Faculty-led discussion groups 9:00 p.m.-9:45 a.m. Plenary lecture 10:00 p.m.-11:15 a.m. Grad student-led workshops on novel 11:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Lunch: Lunch is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Afternoon: Dickensian seminar for those who want to keep discussing, and repeat film screening, 1:45-3:00 p.m; optional field trip to the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History 2:00-3:45 p.m. (overlaps with tea); Victorian Tea 3-3:45 p.m. Afternoon talk 4:00-5:00 p.m. Optional "Deciphering Dickens" research project, and optional Victorian dance lessons 5:15-6:00 p.m.

Dinner: Dinner is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Evening: Post-prandial potations 7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m; lecture from 7:45 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Film screening 9:15 p.m.-11:15 p.m.

DAY

No lecture this evening.Early film screening.

Santa Cruz, CA

B,L,D

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

Activity note: Walking up to a mile around campus throughout the day between apartment, dining facilities and lecture rooms.

Breakfast: Breakfast is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Morning: Faculty-led discussion groups 9:00 p.m.-9:45 a.m. Plenary lecture 10:00 p.m.-11:15 a.m. Grad student-led workshops on novel 11:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Lunch: Lunch is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Afternoon: Dickensian seminar for those who want to keep discussing, and repeat film screening, 1:45 p.m.-3:00 p.m.; optional field trip to the Arboretum and Botanic Garden 2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m. (overlaps with tea); Victorian Tea 3:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Afternoon talk 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Optional "Deciphering Dickens" research project, and optional Victorian dance lessons 5:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Dinner: Dinner is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Evening: No post-prandial potations this evening because of early film screening 7:15 p.m. FREE TIME. Great opportunity to go into town, or just relax.

DAY

Last day of Afternoon Tea. Evening lecture, then Grand Party

Santa Cruz, CA

B,L,D

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

Activity note: Walking up to a mile around campus throughout the day between apartment, dining facilities and lecture rooms.

Breakfast: Breakfast is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Morning: Faculty-led discussion groups 9:00 p.m.-9:45 a.m. Plenary lecture 10:00 p.m.-11:15 a.m. Grad student-led workshops on novel 11:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Lunch: Lunch is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Dinner: Dinner is cafeteria-style at the dining hall. Save room for the delicious homemade cakes and huge assortment of cheeses at the Grand Party later.

Evening: Post-prandial potations 7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m.; Sentimental Soiree and Sing-Along performed by fellow conference attendees 7:45 p.m.-9:00 p.m.; Grand Party for everyone, hosted by Friends of the Dickens Project, 9:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

DAY

Usual daytime activities, auction and Victorian Dance in PM

Santa Cruz, CA

B,L,D

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

Activity note: Walking up to a mile around campus throughout the day between apartment, dining facilities and lecture rooms. Dancing (optional) at this evening's Victorian Dance.

Breakfast: Breakfast is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Morning: Faculty-led discussion groups 9:00 p.m.-9:45 a.m. Plenary lecture 10:00 p.m.-11:15 a.m. Grad student-led workshops on novel 11:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Lunch: Special lunch gathering for Road Scholars and group leader. Lunch will be provided (including for Commuters), either in a reserved section of the dining hall, or catered in a separate area.

Afternoon: Check online schedule for activities.

Dinner: Dinner is cafeteria-style at the dining hall.

Evening: Announcements, Auction, and Victorian Dance (with 5-piece band and dance instructor) 6:45 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

DAY

Departures after breakfast.

Santa Cruz, CA

Breakfast: Breakfast

Meals

17 Meals

6 Breakfasts

5 Lunches

6 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Low Salt, Low Fat, Vegetarian

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Display

Jul 25, 2021 - Jul 31, 2021

Jul 25, 2021 - Jul 31, 2021

Cowell and Stevenson Colleges-UCSC

6 nights

Santa Cruz

All housing is in shared apartments. All apartments share a bathroom, kitchen, and common living room. Kitchens are functional (stoves and fridges) but do not include dishes or cookware. Bedrooms have desks, lamps, and Ethernet hook-up (bring your own cable or rent one of ours). All beds are extra-long twin and linen and bedding is provided. Apartments and rooms have heaters, since it can be a little chilly, but there is no air-conditioning since we get a breeze off the beautiful Monterey Bay. Generally buildings have multiple floors and limited elevators, but we are happy to help you with luggage when you arrive and depart. Ground floor apartments are in very short supply and usually reserved for those with disabilities or strong mobility concerns. We try to accommodate other Road Scholar participants on the second floors. VERY IMPORTANT: UCSC is now a smoke-free campus. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on campus, indoors or out. UCSC WiFi can be unpredictable in the residences, but all apartments are equipped with ethernet ports, so it is recommended to bring an ethernet cable and adapter in order to access the internet from the apartments. WiFi is available in all meeting spaces and libraries. Please note: many tablets do not have ethernet capability.

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6 Reviews

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5 Average

Glenna

Class of 2012

Laguna Beach, CA

(5) 11 months ago

This program is the highlight of my year every year, and I've made lasting friends!

Ken

Class of 2017

Santa Fe, NM

(5) 11 months ago

Second time to the Dickens Universe. It remains challenging, demanding, inclusive, diverse and unapologetic. Do the advance work or regret it in silence. I'd love to hear about any other RS experience that is as academically challenging and rewarding. Suggestions?

Ronald

Class of 2012

New York, NY

(5) a year ago

The is an academic conference focusing on one Dickens novel for 6 days. There are lectures, and seminars much of the day. The conference is unique in that it mixes academics with teachers and knowledgeable Dickens enthusiasts. Any non-academic who is only casually interested in Dickens or Victorian literature will probably not enjoy this program. But if you really *love* Dickens you will be in heaven. It is intense!

John

Class of 2014

Cambridge, MA

(5) a year ago

If you like Charles Dickens this program is for you. A full week of Dickensian lectures, seminars, film, play, and tea parties. johnkelliher2008@comcast.net

Elizabeth

Portland, OR

(5) a year ago

If you love Dickens, this is the program for you

Ricardo

Class of 2015

San Mateo, CA

(5) a year ago

The Dickens Universe at on the beautiful UC-Santa Cruz campus is like a week in paradise! We discuss literature and share meals and drinks daily, sharing ideas with professors, grad students, teachers, and other lovers of literature. it really is the best of both summer camp and book club in one place!

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40th Annual Dickens Universe: David Copperfield & Iola Leroy

At a Glance

Best of all, you'll ...

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