Persian Letters Conference
Persian Letters Conference Poster
Conference Program
Jeffrey Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Persian Letters Conference
Join Zoom Meeting:Please note: All times scheduled are designated in Central time.
Day 1. Friday, Dec. 10th
Session # 1 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. (UTC-6) (virtual)
Discussion Leader: Constantine Vassiliou, 91ÁÔĆć
Presenters:
Robert Sparling, University of Ottawa: “Desire, Domination, and the Struggle for Recognition in Montesquieu’s Seraglio”
Rebecca Kingston, University of Toronto: “Faces of Monarchy in West and East and the Limits of Traditional Jurisprudence: Montesquieu in dialogue with Bodin in The Persian Letters.”&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;
4:15 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;4:45: Intermezzo (informal meet & greet, Bordeaux Wine)
Session # 2 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. (UTC-6) (in-person)
Discussion Leader: Jeffrey Church, 91ÁÔĆć
Presenters:
Lee Ward, Baylor University: “The Role of Female Modesty in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters and its Mandevillean Parallels”
Megan Gallagher, University of Alabama: “Rica in Paris: Sociability and Cosmopolitanism in The Persian Letters
7:00 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;9:30: Candente Restaurant (reservation under Jeffrey Church for 15), 4306 Yoakum Blvd, 77006 (20 minute drive from UH campus)
Day 2. Saturday, Dec. 11th
9:30 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;10:00 a.m. – coffee/tea biscuits (Catered by CafĂ© Anonymous)
Session # 3 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. (UTC-6)
Discussion Leader: Diana Schaub, Loyola University Maryland
Presenters:
John T. Scott, "What Did Uzbek —&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;and the Reader — Know, And When Did He Know It” 

Stuart D. Warner (Roosevelt University), The Book of Relations: Reflections from Persian Letters
11:15 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;11:30: Intermezzo
Session #4: 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (UTC-6)
Discussion Leader: Michael Mosher, University of Tulsa
Presenters:
Constantine Vassiliou (UH)/Emily Nacol (University of Toronto): “The Plague of High Finance in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters"
Ryan Hanley, Boston College: “The Political Economy of the Persian Letters; or, Self-Interest Wrongly Understood, in Three Lessons”
12:45 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;1:30: Lunch (catered by CafĂ© Anonymous)
Session #5 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. (UTC-6)
Discussion Leader: Rebecca Kingston, University of Toronto
Presenters:
Andrea Radasanu: “Law of Nations and the Pitfalls of Abstract Ideals” 

Michael Mosher: “Persian Letters in Time: Adhesive Past: Bright, Unstable Present: Divergent, Fragile Futures"
2:45 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;3:00: Intermezzo
Session #6: 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. (UTC-6)
Discussion Leader: Stuart D. Warner, Roosevelt University
Presenters:
Vickie Sullivan, Tufts University: “Hiding in Plain Sight: Montesquieu as a Friendly Influence in the Persian Letters"
Peter Lund, 91ÁÔĆć: “The Unknown Chains of Enlightenment: the Irony of Philosophy or an Ironic Philosopher”

6:30 –&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;9:30: Brasserie du Parc (reservation for Jeff Church for 15), 1440 Lamar St, 77010 (15 minute drive from UH).