No Place for Ladies
Inspired by reading the diary of a woman who served in the Russian cavalry against Napoleon, the course highlights half a dozen other ladies who – accidentally or on purpose – found themselves involved in the wars of the early … More details …
Everything stops for Tea! A Social History of Drinking Tea
It was during the 18th century that the rituals of tea drinking were established. William Hogarth’s famous conservation pieces, recording upper middle-class life, often focused on tea drinking. In the Victorian era it was J.J. Tissot who captured the nuances … More details …
The Virgin and The Gypsy, Vile Bodies &, Mapp & Lucia – Portraits of the nineteen twenties?
Do these novels by DH Lawrence, Evelyn Waugh and EF Benson seem an eclectic selection? They’re three titles you might have bought in the years 1930 and 1931. Are they still relevant today? What kind of reader would you be? … More details …
Did the Berlin Wall Ever Fall
A blow-by-blow account of the most radical, unexpected and peaceful example of regime change ever witnessed, through the lens of contemporary images, videos and texts. We will consider how brave people brought down an oppressive government that, even months before … More details …
Paris 1925: The Birth of Art Deco and Modernism
A thoroughly French affair, the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale Des Arts Decoratifs et Industrials Moderne was dominated by the foremost designers Rene Lalique for glass, Edgar Brandt for metalwork, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann for furniture and Jean Dunand for lacquer work. With … More details …