The creator and author of the hit series Outlander is coming to Glasgow for a celebration of the impact of the books and TV shows on Scotland.
Author Diana Gabaldon will be speaking at the International Outlander Conference at the University of Glasgow this July.
"I'm honoured (and very excited) that this conference is taking place under the sponsorship of the University of Glasgow," Diana explained. "A tremendous amount of work and organisation has gone into it, and I'm so looking forward to being a part of it!"
Celebrating the global phenomenon – a tale of love across the centuries that has brought the scenery of Scotland to a new worldwide audience – The University of Glasgow will host the major conference to explore the history, politics, culture, languages, clothes and music featured in the series. The International Outlander Conference will take place from 18-22 July and promises to be a landmark event.
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Speaking about the event, the Univesity said: "Over six seasons and nine novels this phenomenal time-travelling adventure series with its roots in Scottish history has turned its cast into superstars, made its author into a heroine, created a global legion of fans and put Scotland on the map for a world readership and TV audience.
"Since the first novel was published in 1991, Outlander has become one of the world’s most popular fiction series, and since 2014 a long-running popular television series has added legions of new fans and boosted its status as an international cultural sensation."
The University, which doubled as Harvard in the TV series and has several academics from a range of disciplines have been directly involved in the production as researchers, advisors and even cast members, is the ideal setting for the conference.
Professor Willy Maley, Professor of Renaissance Studies (English Literature), at the University’s School of Critical Studies, said: “Scotland not only has a great tradition of historical writing from Walter Scott to Dorothy Dunnett, but offers the ideal setting for fiction that combines adventure, fantasy and romance.
“Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series was inspired by Scotland and in turn has helped put Scotland on the map, boosting tourism and engagement with the languages of Scotland as well as interest in the country’s complicated past, from Jacobite resistance to diasporic identities and colonial complicity.”
Keynote speakers for the conference are Dr Diana Gabaldon, Professor Murray Pittock, Dr Katherine Byrne, and Professor Sir Geoff Palmer.
Diana will be talking about her world-changing books; Professor Pittock, University of Glasgow Pro Vice-Principal, will speak about Culloden drawing on his ground-breaking book on the battle, a crucial starting point for Outlander ; Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, who is a pioneering human rights activist, will speak on the debates around Scotland and slavery; and Dr Byrne, of Ulster University whose expertise is in Television Studies, hones in on key themes depicted in the series, including medicine and sexual violence.
Cultural events will include an exhibition of Jacobite Medals, Outlander tours, a ‘Night at the Museum’ event, and even a ceilidh.
How to get Outlander Conference Tickets:
Tickets for the International Outlander Conference at the University of Glasgow from 18-22 July are now on sale to the public and available via Eventbrite. Please be aware tickets are on a first come first served basis and due to venue capacity, for this in-person conference, are therefore limited.
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