The Rise of Women Gardeners in the 20th century
The Rise of Women Gardeners in the Twentieth Century. This course focuses on the influential garden-making of four ‘working amateurs’ – Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville-West, Margery Fish and Beth Chatto – as well as the growth of professional training for women gardeners. … More details …
The Origins and Future of Britishness
The Origins and Future of Britishness What does it mean to be British? Does the term have any meaning in a globalised world, or when the United Kingdom is riven by rival nationalisms? This course will explore how the past has shaped our … More details …
Reading Paintings: The Victorians
READING PAINTINGS: THE VICTORIANS Explore the links between art and literature, from The Angel in the House to The Death of Chatterton. Discover the stories behind famous paintings; meet Rossetti’s elephant; find out why Van Gogh loved the social realists. A) … More details …
Climate Change
Climate Change If you’re one of the many who don’t understand where our energy comes from, how we consume it, what ‘two degrees of warming’ means, or what climate change is about, this course is for you! A simple back-to-basics, with … More details …
Novels of 1952
Novels of 1952 Had there been a major prize in 1952, which of these three novels would you have awarded it to? The Village by Marghanita Laski, The Far Country by Nevil Shute and Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. We’ll … More details …
Hollywood and Politics
Hollywood and Politics An account of how Hollywood has portrayed the world of politics and responded to political issues. Included will be reference to the Depression/New Deal and the Cold War/McCarthyism. John Raisbeck
More details ...The Other Brontë Girl
The Other Brontë Girl. This course will concentrate on the often neglected Brontë sister Anne. Her two novels The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey provide fascinating accounts of the lives of women facing the challenges of a patriarchal … More details …
Who is the “I” in this poem?
Who is the “I” in this poem? Explore the way poets use their own personal experience to create their work, introducing such concepts as ‘persona’ and ‘poetic voice’, but focusing primarily on the pleasure of reading poetry. What is autobiographical … More details …
The Elizabethan Theatre
Elizabeth Theatre Between the building of the first English theatre in 1576 until the death of Elizabeth in 1603, some of the greatest plays ever written were produced and acted in London. We will consider how the theatres were built, … More details …
Masters of the Northern Renaissance
Masters of the Northern Renaissance ‘Renaissance’ conjures up images of Tuscany, but this course will focus on work from Flanders, the Spanish Netherlands and Germany. We will examine portraits, still-lifes, religious subjects and genre scenes by artists such as Jan … More details …
Spencer’s World: The Art of Stanley Spencer
Stanley Spencer is one of the most enigmatic painters of the 20th century. He was a painter of imaginative and religious subjects, of landscapes and portraits and an official war artist of both World Wars. His phenomenal output is considered … More details …
Looking at Old Churches
This Study Day is designed to encourage a systematic approach when confronted with an old building which may not be familiar. It is often helpful to ask a set of questions, which when completed may help to provide a reasonable … More details …
The Tragical History of Dr Faustus
The legend of Dr Faustus has inspired some of the greatest works of art ever since it first appeared in the 16th century Playwrights, poets, novelists, film directors and composers have all interpreted the story. We will consider its different … More details …
The Life and Work of Grayson Perry
An introductory look at the work of Grayson Perry. This study day will be an examination of the multi-disciplinary artist best known for his ceramics, tapestries and cross-dressing. Along with the Julie Cope tapestries, we shall discover his pottery and … More details …
The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett: a novel of provincial life.
We will discuss this novel of provincial life, and consider how it reflects its period and what it says to ours. We shall be looking for key themes and at the impact the novel had on other writers. This novel … More details …