History reading group: radical thinkers of the 18th through the 20th centuries

City Lit

Course

In London

£ 59 VAT inc.

The best Literature courses

See all

See all

Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

This is not so much a course as a forum to explore late18th-20th century Europe (including Britain) through the lives of radical figures / thinkers. We will meet four times: 31 October, 5 December 2018; 20 February and 10 Apri 2019

Our first text, The Life and Death of Mary Wollestonecraft by Claire Tomalin (reprinted Penguin, 2012), allows us to dip into the end of the 18th century and explore some of the ideas which laid the foundations for many future radical thinkers.

At the first session there will be distributed a list of other biographies the group may find useful in selecting future books to discuss. Also suggestions from the group will be very welcome. Please note before suggesting a biography consider not only the biographer and subject but also the accessibility of the biography (availability, length, cost).

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
Keeley Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 4BA

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

1) Read books you may not have considered before
2) Critically evaluate the character and achievements of the individuals explored in each session
3) Place these individuals in their historical context
4) Identify key political, social and cultural changes during the 18th - 20th centuries
5) Express your opinion clearly.

You will be expected to obtain a copy of the biographies to be read. The group will be encouraged to chose recent
biographies available in paperback for a modest price.

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Who would you like to address this question to?

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

Course programme

In each session, through discussion, we will cover 3 general areas. What does the biography tell us about:
1) the subject of the text- his/her character, achievements, legacy.
2) the era in which the individual lived
3) the biographer- his/her interests, bias, strengths, etc.

Each session will discuss a biography selected in the previous session (with the exception of the 1st session). The group will select another biography for the following session.

Additional information

For further details about other courses on European or world history, please see the college website: General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00. See the course guide for term dates and further details

See related categories

History reading group: radical thinkers of the 18th through the 20th centuries

£ 59 VAT inc.

The best Literature courses

See all

See all