August 3, 1953
- Introduction to Carvel Collins, William Yandell Elliot
- Conference Opening Remarks, Carvel Collins
- "New Trends in the Contemporary Novel," Stanley Hyman
- "The Modern Novel," Frank O'Connor
- Response to Hyman and O'Connor, Anthony West
- Panel Discussion
August 4, 1953
- Session Introduction, Carvel Collins
- Lecture, W. M. Frohock
- Session Discussion
- Opening Remarks, Carvel Collins
- "The Era of the Novel?" Georges Simenon
- "Certain Neglected Aspects of the American Novel," Ralph Ellison
- Response to Simenon and Ellison, W.M. Frohock
August 5, 1953
- Opening Remarks, Carvel Collins
- Lecture, Hans Egon Holthusen
- Session Discussion
- Opening Remarks, Carvel Collins
- "Paperback Books and the Writer," Hilda Livingston
- "The Editor and The Author," William Sloane
- Panel Discussion
Harvard Summer School Conference on the Contemporary Novel. August 3–5, 1953. Woodberry Poetry Room, Houghton Library, Harvard University.