John--

Thanks for the call.  I don't think I'll be attending ALA for the first time in a long time (and I'll miss it); I'll be in Denmark through July anyway, maybe a little longer.  

I think the Mark Twain players is a great idea.  We've got a number of personalities among our community who could be great.  

Keep me posted about anything that I can assist with as a member of the Exec. Comm. 

Best, 

--LH

Larry Howe
Professor of English
Chair, Department of Literature and Languages
Roosevelt University

Fulbright Distinguished Chair in American Studies, Syddansk Universitet--Odense, 2014-15
________________________________________
From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of John Bird <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 4:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Deadline for ALA Looming

The deadline for ALA in Boston, May 21-25, is fast approaching, January =
15. Please send to me if you have a proposal for the first session or =
want to be a part of the second.

John Bird
President, Mark Twain Circle of America
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Mark Twain and Disability
Mark Twain=E2=80=99s works are filled with characters who are challenged =
by disability, a theme he explored throughout his career. His constant =
focus on the body yields a rich and interesting set of themes and ideas. =
This session calls for papers that use the emerging field of disability =
studies to examine Twain=E2=80=99s work. Preference will be given to =
works that have a relatively narrow focus rather than broad overviews. =
Papers should have some theoretical connection to disability studies, =
although Twain should be the main focus. Send 250-500 word abstracts by =
January 15, 2015 to John Bird, [log in to unmask]

Returning to the Scene of the =E2=80=9CCrime=E2=80=9D: Mark =
Twain=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CWhittier Birthday Speech=E2=80=9D Re-enacted =
and Reconsidered
Rather than a session of papers, this session will involve a =
re-enactment of Twain=E2=80=99s notorious Whittier Birthday Speech, =
delivered at Boston=E2=80=99s Hotel Brunswick in 1877, with a reading of =
the speech, readings of newspaper accounts, readings from letters =
between William Dean Howells and Twain, and readings of reminiscences by =
both Howells and Twain. A discussion will follow. Persons who plan to =
attend the conference and are willing to read parts (and thus join the =
company of The Mark Twain Players) should contact John Bird by January =
15, 2015. Scripts will be distributed in advance of the conference. Send =
to
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