The Center for Literature Research for Children and Youth of the University of Wrocław is inviting participants to a conference “Controversial dimensions of literature for children” on November 4. Prof. Kimberley Reynolds will give a lecture “Beneath the Big Top: controversial dimensions of circus stories”.

The lecture will be devoted to the circus theme in children’s literature from the 19th century to the present day. Prof. Reynolds proves that the contemporary literary image of the circus does not differ much from the picture from over a hundred years ago. Despite the change in the perception of the circus institution, as well as significant changes in its functioning, the circus is still present in children’s literature.

Kimberley Reynold is a professor of children’s literature at the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK. In 2013, she won the International Brothers Grimm Award for her contribution to research into children’s literature.