The British Association for Romantic Studies (BARS) was set up in 1989 by academics to promote the study of the cultural history of the Romantic period. Since then, BARS has organised eight International conferences at various locations in the UK, has published the BARS Bulletin and Review twice-yearly, and developed and maintained a 300-strong membership of British and overseas academics. We would particularly like to welcome North American and Canadian Romanticists to BARS. Overseas members share all the benefits of British members, and will find BARS a useful source of information concerning conferences and publications organised by its members.

In recent years, BARS has extended its activities into a number of important new fields: it supports a series of annual BARS postgraduate conferences, which offer postgraduates an informal arena in which to give and listen to academic papers and discuss their work. BARS also funds the Stephen Copley Postgraduate Bursaries; applicants can apply for sums up to £200 to help them in their research expenses. There is an electronic mailbase for BARS members, informing them of worldwide conferences and events in the field as well as relevant new publications.

The BARS International Conference has a long history of successful four-day events attended by both eminent and new Romanticists from Britain and abroad. These conferences showcase the new work being done in the field of Romantic studies. They are held biannually, and the next conference will take place at the University of Newcastle from Thursday 28 until Sunday 31 July 2005 under the title 'Romanticism's Debatable Lands'. The BARS Bulletin is published twice-yearly and informs members of upcoming events, publications and notices relevant to their interests as well as offering an extensive reviews section, reflecting the research interests of BARS members. Members receive the BARS Bulletin and Review twice a year and be joined to the BARS Electronic Mailbase.

Please contact: Sharon Ruston, BARS Membership Secretary and Treasurer, English Department, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2DG, UK, els803@bangor.ac.uk, for further information about membership.

Sharon Ruston
els803@bangor.ac.uk