Dr. Simon Hull, Assistant Professor of English Literature in the College of Science & General Studies at Alfaisal University, gave a seminar on “Romanticism, the Familiar Essay, and the Rise of Consumerism” on Wednesday 25 March 2009 at Alfaisal. He discussed the so-called ‘familiar’ essay from the early 19th century which embodies a harmonization of two supposedly conflicting concepts, Romanticism and consumerism.
Focusing on examples from Lamb, Hazlitt and De Quincey, he explained that this innovative act of mediation revolves around a ‘gastronomy’ motif which ironically involves, in various ways, the anointed ‘high priest’ of Romantic transcendence, William Wordsworth. The Colloquium was well attended by faculty, students and staff from the various colleges.
