History, culture & writing

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.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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  1. The Norwich School - a unique society of landscape painters
    Course start date:  Fri 9 Jun 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    On this course you will study the fascinating work of the 19th century Norwich School, a loose association of generations of painters from artistic families who worked in Norwich, Norfolk, one of the most important and wealthy regional capitals of the day. You will explore the beautiful landscapes produced by these artists and also discover work produced by remarkable women in the group.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
  2. The writings of Cicero: an introduction
    Course start date:  Fri 21 Jul 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sean Gabb
    An introduction to one of the most influential and prolific Roman writers, Cicero, his life and works.



    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 £55.00 Concession £45.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
  3. How to spark your creative writing
    Course start date:  Fri 28 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sophie McKenzie
    Discover the joy of creative writing! Leave stress and worry at the door and find new ways to express your creativity on this fun, dynamic and supportive short course. Please note: this course will have a 2-hr break from 12:30-14:30.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
  4. Full fee £99.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  5. Seven wonders of the ancient world
    Course start date:  Fri 6 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  William Sterling
    The Seven Wonders fascinate us, but what were they and why were they wonders? Using art, literature and



    archaeology we'll explore possible answers.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  6. Writing horror: getting started
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 20 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jonathan Barnes
    Where does terror begin? This fun workshop explores the core elements of the horror genre so you can walk in the footsteps of writers like Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson and Stephen King.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
  7. Writing for blogs
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 17 Nov 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Terry Freedman
    Got a passion, a journey or an obsession to share? Blogging is the perfect medium through which to share your interests with the world. This taster course teaches the essential skills required to write blogposts that will resonate.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
  8. Classical Sanskrit poetry in translation
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 12 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Come and discover some of the masterpieces of classical Sanskrit poetry (kavya) in English.



    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 £45.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  9. Japanese novellas and short stories
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 26 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Beatrice Ashton-Lelliott
    Short stories offer a brief window into a variety of other lives, places, and situations. This literary form has remained popular in Japan over several centuries, with topics as diverse as natural disasters, the beauty of everyday life, hellish curses and the consequences of fame. We’ll explore the history of this medium through a selection of short stories by some of Japan’s most popular short story authors.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
  10. Writing poetry: getting started
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 2 Feb 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Billie Manning
    This short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
  11. Life writing: getting started
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 23 Feb 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Lucy Popescu
    This inspiring workshop encourages students to explore a range of techniques and prompts in order to create vivid and engaging life writing.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00
  12. Italian cinema: from Neorealism to the genre film
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 28 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Cristina Massaccesi
    This cinema course focuses on Italian cinema in the years between 1945 and 1980. It will provide you with an overview of the main historical, cultural and social aspects of Italian filmmaking in Italy by looking at the work of some of its most influential author/directors.
    Full fee £99.00
  13. Private portraits: painted miniatures in early modern Europe
    Course start date:  Fri 5 May 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Portrait miniatures are some of the most exquisite and beguiling likenesses ever produced. Their tiny scale and painstaking creation give them an intricacy, intimacy and sense of intrigue. These often reflect the circumstances in which they were gifted to their new owners by the person commissioning them, and both the images and their wider contexts repay our close study on this course.
    Full fee £99.00
  14. An introduction to film
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 3 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jon Wisbey
    Develop your critical understanding of cinema through a range of concepts and critical approaches in film studies, including narrative, genre, spectatorship, authorship and directors, popular cinema, art cinema, national cinema and early film, along with technological developments including the transition to sound, while we view and discuss a range of key films from cinema's history as examples.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
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