Beck Lecture series
The Beck Lecture series at the University of Victoria focuses on various aspects of Icelandic literature and culture. Richard and Margaret Beck made provision in their wills for a special fund to be established at the University of Victoria to provide public lectures on Icelandic language and literature. Richard passed away on July 23, 1980, and Margaret on December 10, 1985. The first "Richard and Margaret Beck Lecture on Icelandic Literature" took place on February 14, 1988. Since then, the University of Victoria has hosted over 80 lectures on a wide range of topics.
During the spring of 2025, we are once again hosting a visiting professor from the University of Iceland. Torfi Tulinius will be teaching a course titled "From Crime in the Sagas to Crime Fiction in Today's Iceland" (GMST 369) and is also providing three public lectures as part of the Richard and Margaret Beck Lecture Series on Icelandic Literature.
Spring Lecture Series
University of Victoria, Clearihue A207
Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 2:00 pm
Trauma, Healing, and Poetry in the Icelandic Sagas
In this lecture, Torfi Tulinius will discuss the dialectics of revenge and poetry in thirteenth-century life and literature and its relationship to the trauma of loss, both personal and collective.
Click here for the poster.
Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 2:00 pm
Mixed Emotions: The Trouble with Royal Blood in Laxdæla saga
Through an analysis of the plot of Laxdæla saga, especially in its relationship to the competition between overlords in Iceland during the Sturlung period (mid-thirteenth century),Torfi Tulinius will propose a new reading of the saga based on medieval ideas of royal blood.
Click here for the poster.
Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2:00 pm
The Stranger. Who is the Criminal in Arnaldur Indriðason's stories?
This Beck lecture provides an exploration of Arnaldur Indriðason's Erlendur novels from a psychoanalytic perspective.
Click here for the poster.
Lecture Recordings
You can find information about the past lectures in the Archive and other interesting information related to the Margaret Beck Fund under the tabs below.
Coordinators
Dr. Helga Thorson, University of Victoria (2015-2019, current)
Dr. Megan Swift, University of Victoria (2019-2021)
Dr. John Tucker, University of Victoria (emeritus)
Dr. W. D. Valgardson, University of Victoria (emeritus)
Comments & Questions
Please email the Beck Lecture Series.