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.
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- All that Jazz: American Beat writingCourse start date: Thu 1 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Woody RiverThis course explores the excitement and innovation of the Beat Generation writers who emerged in the 1950s. We will examine their sources of inspiration while exploring their lives and the culture in which they lived. We will also consider their legacy and how their work and lifestyles shaped what was to come.
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 - Being and beauty: the philosophy of Japanese aestheticsCourse start date: Thu 15 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffNot something apart from everyday life but intrinsic to it, beauty in Japanese thought does not entail perfection but the surprise of imperfect and transient being.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £45.00 - Writing the personal: autobiographical theatre
Course start date: Thu 6 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinLearn how to select and shape your own life experiences into a dynamic text for live performance on this supportive online course. Suitable for those with some experience of creative writing.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 - The Odyssey reading group (in translation) Course start date: Thu 13 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurrayHomer’s epic tale of Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War may now be over 2,500 years old but it still has much to tell us about the Ancient Greek world that is still relevant today. Explore this great work in translation.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 - How to write a novel Course start date: Thu 9 Nov 2023 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Thomas McMullanThis course deals with all aspects of novel writing technique and prose style. Ideal for fiction writers about to begin a novel or those with a novel at early draft stage.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveCourse start date: Thu 18 Apr 2024 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 - Economics for beginnersCourse start date: Thu 21 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Naresh SonparEconomics is about what drives human behaviour in making decisions faced with limited resources. Join this online course to learn a toolkit of skills, approaches and ways of thinking that you can apply to a wide range of problems.
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 - Americans in 20th century Paris: expats in the City of LoveCourse start date: Thu 21 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Megan BeechFrom the founding fathers to some of the premiere writers, artists, actors, intellectuals, musicians and film makers of the 20th Century, Paris has always been a hotbed for American Expats including Hemingway, Josephine Butler, and James Baldwin. This course looks at the role the city has played for these creatives and what these creatives brought to the city.Full fee £99.00 - Get together and readCourse start date: Thu 4 May 2023 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire AllenEnjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is led by a shared reading practitioner trained by The Reader Organisation.Full fee £99.00 - The 60 minute writer: intensiveCourse start date: Thu 5 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lucy PopescuFit 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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Greek philosophy: the Hellenistic periodCourse start date: Thu 2 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: John GoffThe pursuit of happiness is ongoing. In the ancient Greek world this gave rise to several ‘philosophies of life’ that remain the cornerstone of contemporary attitudes. Join this course to explore their key sources.
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 - New York '80s cultureCourse start date: Thu 2 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Megan BeechThis course will introduce you to the New York of the 1980s where art, music, theatre, fashion and nightlife were combining and the finest young artists Haring and Basquiat, Blondie and Grandmaster Flash, graffiti and punk. We will explore how different artistic movements informed each other in the period and how the forces of gentrification and increasing control by the City made these kinds of collaboration less possible.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00 - Understanding economics: from stock markets to game theory
Course start date: Thu 2 Nov 2023Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Naresh SonparEconomics is about what drives human behaviour in making decisions faced with limited resources. You will learn how economics is applied to financial markets in making investment decisions.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 - Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre and VilletteCourse start date: Thu 2 May 2024 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sophie OxenhamThis Literature course focuses on two novels by Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre and Villette. We will develop an appreciation of Brontë’s narrative methods and concerns through close analysis of her language, alongside engaging with the literary, historical and critical contexts of these novels, and the Brontë ‘mythology’ itself.Full fee £99.00 - Treasures of Byzantine art and architectureCourse start date: Thu 23 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Online
The Byzantines (circa 330-1453) have produced some of the finest works of art and erected the most remarkable buildings in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.
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
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