Romanticism and Justice

Abstract

ABSTRACT This introduction addresses seven articles developed from talks delivered at the 29th annual conference of the North American Society for the Study of Romanticism, which convened from 30 March to 1 April 2023, at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. The articles represent the broad range of engagements at the conference with the conference topic, Romanticism and Justice, but they also share a number of common themes: the urgency of inclusivity, the importance of attending to place in matters of justice, the prevalence but often overlooked influence of institutions that shape the literary world, as well as the often close connections between literature and social movements that seek greater justice. In charting these intertwined themes across the essays, this introduction reflects on past and future conferences and the need for scholars individually and academic associations collectively to consider not merely the subject matter of their research but also who is included in discussions and deliberations about what we do and why.