'Networks of Dissent', the Ninth Triennial Conference of the International John Bunyan Society, Alberta, Canada, 14–17 August 2019

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 23; pp. 76 - 82
• Main Author: Zinck, Arlette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Allegory; Biographies; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Early Modern English; Exegesis & hermeneutics; Imprisonment; Law; Library collections; Literary devices; Museums; Narrative techniques; Presidents; Society; Trials; Websites; Canada
• ISSN: 0954-0970

An exhibition of Bunyan editions, an evening town and gown event, an afternoon visit to the brand new Royal Alberta Museum, and a banquet rounded out conference events. For the next hour or so, contented Bunyanists dined on a rich collection of hors d'oeuvres while they toured the exhibition and posed questions to Sylvia, to Robert Desmarais, Head Special Collections Librarian, and to exhibition designer, Kevin Zak, whose striking graphics and visually stunning displays made the texts themselves as enticing to the eye as they are fascinating in their content. Drawing on her expertise in early modern English law, Alison explored the contemporary idea of paying a tithe through an alternative currency, and demonstrated how Milton's Satan, humiliated by the debt of praise owed to God, turns ecclesiastical ordinances into ordnance, its canons into cannons. Following the brief drama, Madam Justice Myra Bielby, Alberta Court of Appeal, heard arguments both for and against Bunyan's appeal as they were articulately presented for the defence by Patrick Hart, JD, PhD, and for the prosecution by The Honourable Darlene Acton, who recently retired from the Alberta Court of Appeals bench.