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California

Annual Dickens Universe: A Conference of 19th Century Literature

Program No. 4650RJ
Immerse yourself in the world of 19th-century literature and learn about the authors through lectures, group discussions and Victorian events at the annual Dickens Universe.
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  • A deer with large antlers stands between two large redwood trees in a wooded area on a California campus.
  • Dickens' Universe Festival
  • Attendees of the annual Dickens Universe conference listen to a plenary lecture in a crowded auditorium in California.
  • An iridescent green hummingbird hovers mid-air, feeding from a spidery red and orange flower in a California arboretum.
  • A black-and-white George Cattermole illustration for The Old Curiosity Shop shows three figures in a room cluttered with antiques and suits of armor.
  • A party spread at the Dickens Universe conference in California, with sliced cake, grapes, crackers, bread, and a small white toy mouse.
  • Dickens' Universe Festival
  • Dickens' Universe Festival
Festivals, Misc.LiteratureHistory
Length
7 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,749
Program
At a Glance
Duration
7 days
Program Begins
Santa Cruz, CA
Program Concludes
Santa Cruz, CA
Meals
17 ( 6B, 5L, 6D )
Activity Level
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. The festive week-long program includes lectures by distinguished scholars, small seminars, films, teas and Victorian dancing. Enrollment is limited. Register early!
Best of all, you'll...
  • Explore the novel 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.
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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 the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
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."
Mark Gordon, a retired children’s librarian from New York City Public Schools, moved to Santa Cruz in 1992. He has been active in educational work his whole adult life and earned a graduate degree from Pratt Institute in Library Science. In Santa Cruz, in addition to being on the board of the Friends of the Dickens Project, Mark is also a very active board member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UC Santa Cruz. He is married with two daughters and three grandchildren.
Courtney Mahaney can frequently be found with scissors in her hand, from secateurs to dressmaker’s shears. When she is not gardening or sewing, Courtney takes her beagle, Millie, on therapeutic visits to area nursing homes, and serves as a court-appointed special advocate for a foster youth. She loves literature and exploring antiquarian bookstores. A native Vermonter, she now calls Santa Cruz home.
Renée Fox is Associate Professor of Literature and Jordan-Stern Presidential Chair for Dickens and Nineteenth-Century Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she co-directs the Dickens Project and the Center for Monster Studies. She is the author of 'The Necromantics: Reanimation, the Historical Imagination, and Victorian British and Irish Literature' (Ohio State UP, 2023), which received the Sonya Rudikoff Award for best first book in Victorian studies and honorable mention for the Donald Murphy Prize for best first book in Irish studies.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to 1 mile per day over hilly terrain between apartment buildings, dining facilities and lecture rooms. Program will require approximately 7 miles of walking over 7 days. The UC Santa Cruz campus is built on an incline. Classrooms, dining and lecture halls are accessible via ramps or elevators. Apartments are not equipped with elevators. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

  • Peace of Mind

    We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

  • Assurance Plan

    Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

  • Want to Protect Your Investment?

    Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

  • Sustainable Travel

    We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.