England - Italy relations

The Fifth International Conference on Anglo-Italian Literary and Cultural Relations is being convened this week by the Institute of Anglo-Italian studies at the University of Malta. From TMIS:

“At the dawn of the 19th century, Italy had, for 200 years, been the universal art gallery, wunderkammer, museum, classroom, repository of Europe’s heritage,” writes Roderick Cavaliero in his recently published book Italia Romantica, a lively and vivid historical account of the Romantics’ love affair with Italy. Indeed English writers, artists and scholars have drawn so extensively on the culture of Italy in the field of literature, art, architecture, painting and music that it has become difficult to assess and evaluate the nature of this extraordinary influence.

A number of eminent British and Italian scholars will assemble at the University of Malta to read papers on the influence of Italy in English literature and culture. The Fifth International Conference on Anglo-Italian Literary and Cultural Relations is being convened by Professor Peter Vassallo, Head of the Department of English and Director of the Institute of Anglo-Italian studies at the university. The conference will be held in the University House Conference Room on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 September from 9am to 4.30pm. Scholars will focus mainly, but not exclusively, on a variety of topics relating to the central theme of Anglo-Italian cross-cultural influences.

Anglo-Italian Conference details here