Bayeux Tapestry and Other Early Medieval Treasures
This six week course will focus on 6 early medieval objects including the Bayeux Tapestry and the Winchester Bible. Current knowledge of the making and history of each object will be discussed in detail. The Bayeux Tapestry is due to … More details …
The Origins of Us: the deep evolutionary story of our bodies
How did we come to be here? How did our bodies, our five senses and our exceptional brains evolve? Life emerged on our planet about 3.8 billion years ago as tiny sea dwelling bacteria: in a very real sense these … More details …
North (1975) Seamus Heaney
“North”, published in 1975 is divided into two parts. The first contains poems which are more symbolic in nature, taking themes such as the myth of Hercules and Antaeus, the bog bodies of Northern Europe, the Vikings and other historical … More details …
Napoleon Bonaparte: Hero and Saviour of the French Nation or Destroyer of French liberty ?
From revolutionary general to imperial icon, Napoleon Bonaparte reshaped Europe’s political landscape. This course will follow Napoleon through his military campaigns, seizure of power and imperial impact within France and across Europe. We will consider how Napoleon navigated revolutionary ideals, … More details …
Selected novels of Thomas Hardy
This six week course will look at two novels by Thomas Hardy. Starting with The Mayor of Casterbridge (1866) we will consider concepts including ideas of tradition and modernity, time and history, the urban and the rural and ideas of … More details …
Archaeology of the Natufian Culture – Leaving the Garden of Eden
The Natufian Culture marks perhaps one of the most extraordinary transformations of our ancient human culture. Dating to just after the last ice age (15,000 years ago) archaeological evidence shows that the culture enabled (perhaps) the first sedentary population prior … More details …
Antoni Gaudi, ‘God’s Architect’
The centenary of Gaudi’s death will be celebrated in 2026. Everything about Gaudi is larger than life including his death. Knocked down by a tram, the shabbily dressed architect was mistaken for a tramp and failed to receive medical treatment. … More details …
Central Asia – a melting pot or a divided region?
In this course we will explore the fascinating and enigmatic area sometimes referred to as the wild and opaque “black hole” in the heart of Asia. For millennia forming a cultural trading crossroads along the Silk Road, with unmatched prosperity … More details …
Virtuoso!
Journey through the dazzling world of the violin concerto in a day filled with glorious music – music that is brilliant, lyrical and deeply emotional. Our Virtuoso! day traces the violin’s story from Vivaldi’s fiery energy through the sweeping Romantic … More details …