Discussion-based session about the letters as a gift and an object of value
3 March 12:00 to 14:00
Ertegun House, 37A St Giles
"Precious Fragments": The Letter as a Gift and an Object of Value
We ask all attendees to bring one letter that provides an interesting take on how eighteenth-century letter-writers attributed value to their letters and/or conceived of their letters as gifts. We will circulate in advance two pieces of background reading, and at the start of the session Jennifer Wood (University of Oxford) and Kelsey Rubin-Detlev (University of Oxford) will offer a 15-20 minute introduction to raise various theoretical questions about letters as objects of exchange, as gifts, currency, debts, and obligations.
Please RSVP by Friday, 27 February to enlightenmentcorr@gmail.com to receive the background reading and to help us get an accurate count for our free sandwich lunch.
