Explore 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 Creative non-fiction writing courses and American history and Politics courses.
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 now.
- Creative non-fictionCourse start date: Fri 19 Jan 2024 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul LaffanExplore practical and imaginative approaches to creative non fiction, including travel writing, life writing and the essay. Analyse published work, produce your own pieces, and benefit from detailed feedback.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £95.00 - Writing a memoir (continuation)Course start date: Fri 12 Jan 2024 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Julie GartonSome moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This continuation course guides students in developing a memoir project that will resonate and inspire.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - Early English queenship before 1066Course start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingThe earliest queens were accused of murder, being wicked stepmothers, shape-shifters and witches. But how much of this was true and not simply Norman spin-doctoring after 1066?Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - Writing a memoirCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Julie GartonSome moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This course will help you plan and craft a memoir that will resonate and inspire.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - Modern French literatureCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard NilandExplore modern French literature in translation, discussing literary style, themes, and contexts as a way of sharing and developing responses to celebrated French writers. From Cendrars and Céline to Modiano and Ernaux, come discover poetry, prose, fiction, and autobiography by essential French authors of the past one hundred years.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Short story writingCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alex PickettA hands-on introduction to the art of writing short stories. You will receive technical advice, creative exercises to generate ideas, and feedback to develop your writing skills.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £110.00 - Ways into creative writing: a gentle paceCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Claire CollisonAre you brand new to creative writing? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners? This gentle short-course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a creative writer.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - The 60 minute writerCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Claire AllenFit creative writing into your busy day: a relaxed, informal rolling programme for writers of all levels of experience who enjoy being thrown new ideas and experimenting with poetry and prose.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £55.00 - Friday Late: The British Empire, sugar & enslavementCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen CarpenterHow did sugar become central to Georgian dining and what impact did sugar consumption in Britain have on enslavement and the slave trade? Join us for a one-off Friday Late session on the history of sugar, sugar consumption in Britain and its darker associations with enslavement and slave produced crops in the Caribbean colonies.
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 £7.00 - Philosophy and literature: from romanticism to existentialismCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Barrie SelwynFull fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Friday lates: the East India Company and the passion for chintzCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anita ChowdryExplore the story of how Indian painted and printed cottons became an important trade commodity for the Western domestic market, and the far-reaching impact of their design and manufacture.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - A taste of politicsCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenBorders, conflicts, citizenship, elections, activism and global politics. We see these topics on the news every day. Some seem connected, others less so. Join our politics taster to get perspective and an overview of our politics courses.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Europe and the Age of Discovery 1400-1500Course start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingExplore the growth and expansion of post-plague Europe that witnessed not only the splendour of Burgundy, the rise of printing, unification of Spain and the Renaissance, but also the Age of Exploration that led to colonialism and slavery. - Advanced poetry workshopCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah WardleDevelop your poetry, taking it in new directions and maturing your poetic voice. Various approaches and techniques will be explored, and new poetry can be workshopped. For experienced poets only.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £115.00 - Introduction to art historyCourse start date: Fri 12 Jan 2024 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Thomas BalfeAre you interested in art and want to get more out of looking at art and exhibitions? Want to know what an art historian does? Develop your interpretative skills by exploring at how art is made and what social and cultural factors construct our understanding of it.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
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