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. Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
  2. Lunchtime lecture: angels in art
    Course start date:  Wed 13 Dec 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Emma Rose Barber
    Angels have always made their mark – wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.



    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
  3. Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £55.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  4. Lunchtime lecture: Cezanne - from aspiring Impressionist to Post-Impressionist revolutionary
    Course start date:  Wed 10 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Julia Musgrave
    Explore the development of Cezanne revolutionary approach to painting, his techniques and motifs and some of the many artists whose work he influenced.



    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
  5. The Trojan War (continued): history or myth?
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Michael Duigan
    The poetry of Homer and other myths tell us about the ‘abduction of Helen’ and the destruction of a city. Do archaeology and contemporary state archives support this epic tradition?
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  6. Reading for writers: feminist fiction (a fortnightly course)
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Eleanor Penny
    The landscape of feminist fiction is rich and multifaceted. In this course we'll explore just a fragment to learn what lessons authors of feminist workscan teach budding writers of fiction. We'll read novels by Doris Lessing, Bernadine Evaristo, Mieko Kawakami, and others. We'll analyse, discuss and use these works to inspire and develop our own fiction. You will need to come to the first class having read the short works 'Woman at Point Zero', by Nawal El Saadawi, and 'The Yellow Wallpaper', by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.



    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
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  7. Literature Taster: Shakespeare
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sophie Oxenham
    Curious about studying Shakespeare? Try this taster session on Shakespeare to boost your confidence and whet your appetite for further study. We will explore short passages from two Shakespeare plays, one comedy (As You Like It) and one tragedy (Hamlet).



    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
  8. The art and cinema of 20th century Spain: from Picasso to Almodóvar
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Mark Stuart-Smith
    Explore the development of Spanish art from Picasso’s 1937 'Guernica' to the installations of Juan Muñoz in the 1980s and 1990s. We will focus on key episodes highlighting General Franco’s impact on Spanish art 1936-2000.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
  9. Writing for magazines
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 31 Oct 2023 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Yvonne Singh
    Get inspired to write on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. Learn to carry out research, interview people, pitch and publish stories, and build your presence on social media.



    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
    Rating:
    98% of 100
  10. Asian fictions
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Aamer Hussein
    A selection of 20th century classics from South Asia, China, Korea and Japan, in English and in translation, which have a lasting impact on world literature. These include Yasunari Kawabata's haunting story of reunion and revenge, Beauty and Sadness, Fumiko Enchi's exploration of a complex triangular relationship, Masks, R.K Narayan's story of love, deception and faith, The Guide, Kamala Markandaya's Nectar in a Sieve, the miniature saga of a woman's life in rural India, and the stories of Eileen Chang and Park Kyongni.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
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