History, Culture & Writing
Explore our extraordinary range of History, Culture and Writing courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from ‘How to read a film’ and World literature, to writing creative non-fiction and American history and politics.
Study online from the comfort of home, with interactive classes that allow you to participate in discussions with fellow adult students. We offer daytime, evening and weekend courses, both short and long. For more information, please see our guide to online learning.
Our tutors are experts in their fields and experienced educators; many have published, teach in universities or share their expertise in the media. Tutors share their knowledge and passion through presentations, readings, interactive discussion and exercises, analysis, and other activities.
Many students return to take more courses, telling us they enjoy being part of our City Lit Learning community.
Our popular courses often sell out quickly, so we invite you to browse and book your place online now.
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- The Art of the Essay: from Walter Benjamin to Claudia RankineCourse Date: Wed 23 Jun 2021
Location on this date: Online
We will go on a journey to investigate the art and form of the essay through collectively reading a variety of essayists from the early 20th century to the present day. We will explore the essay’s hazy boundaries between diary, literary criticism, nature writing, elegy, aphorism, political tract, and mystical/religious experiences through key essayists including Walter Benjamin, Virginia Woolf, Clarice Lispector, Audre Lorde, Etel Adnan, James Baldwin, David Rattray, and Claudia Rankine.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £54.00 - A compact guide to international migration: history and presentCourse Date: Wed 30 Jun 2021
Location on this date: Online
Explore and understand trends and developments in international migration since the industrial revolution.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £35.00 - Ways into creative writing: an introductionCourse Date: Wed 19 May 2021 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Want to have a go at creative writing in a supportive atmosphere? Join this introductory course. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £52.00 - Creative non-fiction: an introduction
Course Date: Thu 3 Jun 2021 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Online
This short introductory course explores the core elements of creative non-fiction across genres such as travel writing, the personal essay and life writing. On this course you will start to produce your own works of creative non-fiction.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £52.00 - Ancient Greek poetry reading group (in translation)Course Date: Wed 21 Jul 2021
Location on this date: Online
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are still well-loved, but other archaic Greek poets’ surviving works are equally fascinating. Explore the world and works of Hesiod, Archilochus, Sappho, Pindar and others.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £48.00 - Micropoetry: small poems, big ideasCourse Date: Wed 10 Nov 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Explore the emerging art form of micropoetry in this fun but informative day workshop. Compose your own poetry and learn how to make every word on the page count.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Writers of the New YorkerCourse Date: Wed 28 Jul 2021
Location on this date: Online
Over three weeks we explore the work of three writers from The New Yorker. We think about the history of the magazine and look at the writing of three of its best-known women: Maeve Brennan, Lillian Ross, and Janet Malcolm.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £30.00 - Creating your author platform onlineCourse Date: Wed 2 Jun 2021 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Increasingly publishers are looking for an author with an impressive online presence, as well as a sparkling manuscript. In this workshop, you'll learn how to start and grow your author brand, gain a following and build a readership for your future titles.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Picture book writing: a tasterCourse Date: Wed 8 Dec 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Would you like to write a picture book text for young children? This taster course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories. Develop both your ideas and your technique.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Creative non-fiction: a tasterCourse Date: Wed 8 Sep 2021 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Have you had experiences that will move, delight or entertain readers? This taster session in creative-non fiction explores approaches to capturing your most poignant moments and crafting them into inspiring pieces of literature.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Ways into advanced historical studyCourse Date: Wed 15 Sep 2021
Location on this date: Online
If you have a passion for history, or if you've ever been interested in studying history at a higher level, this course could be right for you. Whether you're an avid hobby historian, or thinking about studying history for your Foundation, Bachelors or Masters degree, this course offers you an introduction to history at an advanced level.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £419.00 Senior fee £419.00 Concession £184.00 - Ruling by right of conquest: Henry VII in historyCourse Date: Wed 15 Sep 2021
Location on this date: Online
Henry VII ruled England from the moment he seized the crown following the Battle of Bosworth until his death in 1509, yet there is nothing inevitable about the foundation of the Tutor dynasty. Just how strong was the Tudor claim to the throne and what is Henry VII’s legacy.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £39.00 - The Cold WarCourse Date: Wed 15 Sep 2021
Location on this date: Online
Explore how the "Grand Alliance" of the USA, Britain and the USSR degenerated into a Cold War that divided Europe for forty years. See where the Cold War got hot in other parts of the world. Tutor: Alison Appleby.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £105.00 - Writing fictionCourse Date: Wed 21 Apr 2021 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Lovers of fiction can develop their creative writing skills on this practical intermediate course. You'll explore the fundamentals of fiction writing craft such as character and structure, and unlock your imagination to produce compelling prose. Suitable for those with some creative writing experience.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £84.00 - Developing your novelCourse Date: Wed 22 Sep 2021 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Have you started work on your novel? This course is suitable for experienced creative writers who want to make progress with a novel draft. Learn more about the art of novel writing and move your project forward in a supportive workshop environment.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £84.00
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