Courses in London & Online

Do you enjoy reading in Italian and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between English-speaking and Italian-speaking cultures? Do you have a particular interest and/or background in literature, especially literature in other languages? Would you like to see if you have a special knack for translation, perhaps with a view to doing it professionally? Come and join this interactive translation course to hone your translation skills.

Come and explore London in writing! On this course we’ll study fiction and non-fiction texts about London. Contemporary perspectives on the city include two recent novels: Happiness by Aminatta Forna and Light Perpetual by Frances Spufford.

This course explores the transformative period of Russian history from 1860 to 1924, encompassing the autocratic rule of the Tsars, the revolutionary upheavals of 1905 and 1917, the chaos of the civil war, and the consolidation of the Bolshevik regime. Students will examine key events, figures, and ideologies that shaped modern Russia, delving into the complexities of political, social, and economic changes during this era.



Please note: this course includes much of the material covered in previous Russian Revolution courses at the City Lit. Moreover this course is taught at an introductory level. Tutor: Zoe Quinn.

This course is an introduction to the key concepts in African philosophy. We will analyse the various positions and contestations regarding the nature, and trends in African philosophy, debate on communitarianism and personhood, and ubuntu.

This course explores the Making, the Locating and the Viewing of Renaissance paintings in the collection of the National Gallery. This course takes place at the National Gallery.

Explore the art, artists and history of the Italian High Renaissance. This short course, delivered in Italian, will introduce you to some of the major figures in the history of Italian art. This module of 5 lessons will cover



Renaissance painting in Italy and each lesson will be devoted to a particular artist who is representative of their time. The course will be delivered online.

This class explores the work of Leonard Cohen, examining his poetry, song, prose and persona in the context of the literary and musical traditions that shaped his art. We delve into Cohen’s meditations on life and the modern world through his absorption and reworking of a rich range of cultural influences.

Ven a practicar y mejorar tu español en nuestro curso de conversación. Trabajaremos con un corto del cine español, relatos, noticias televisivas, etc. Desarrollarás diferentes registros lingüísticos en función de las circunstancias y el contexto en el que te encuentres. Este curso es para estudiantes con nivel avanzado de español (si has estudiado español al menos durante 5 años) y tiene lugar en semanas alternativas.

Revise and consolidate your speaking and listening skills, as well as your grammar. Suitable if you have completed completed 2-3 years of study in the past.

What do we mean by ‘literary fiction’? What expectations do we bring to the novels we read? Do we really ‘escape’ when we enter fictional worlds? These are just some of the questions addressed in a course which focuses on the analysis of prose fiction. Reading texts as short as one-sentence ‘flash fiction’ to complete short stories, it engages with writing from a wide range of periods and authors, paying close attention to narrative techniques and their effects.

This online course introduces a selection of fairy tales from the First Golden Age of Children’s Literature, occurring in the latter half of the 19th century until the early 20th century. We will focus upon L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan (1911), George McDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin (1872), and Charles Kingsley’s The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby (1863).

Explore seminal modern plays by three leading women playwrights – Caryl Churchill, Timberlake Wertenbaker and Moira Buffini – who are all known for groundbreaking and innovative dramatic work.



In the company of an experienced theatre director, examine the different theatrical visions of three exciting plays.