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.
- A taste of creative writing
Course start date: Sat 22 Apr 2023 (and 4 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieGive creative writing a try on this fun and supportive short course. Ideal if you want to express yourself but need help in getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - A taste of philosophyCourse start date: Sat 22 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffHave you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax and style for creative writers - a tasterCourse start date: Sun 23 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: William BradyGreat poetry and prose begin when the writer puts the right words in the right places. Learn how and why the rules and conventions of language matter in this new course, which combines creative writing with a review of essential points of grammar.
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 - Craft focus: character in fictionCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghIn fiction, character and plot are inseparable elements of craft. Without characters there can be no action or plot. In this short course you will learn how to create characters that can drive a narrative forward and deepen its themes.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Focus on: HopperCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersStudy Hopper’s key works, including 'Automat' and 'Nighthawks', within the context of biography, social and political events, and movements such as Regionalism, Social Realism and American Scene painting.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Ways into screenwriting: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Alan NixonWant to write scripts but don't know how to start? Discover the basics of screenwriting - character, conflict and more - on this short course that will help you shape your ideas and get your story going.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - The rise and fall of the Mughal EmpireCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ellen CarpenterOn this introductory course we will follow the fortunes of the Mughal Emperors, rulers of Northern India from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. What were their contributions to the religious, political and cultural life of northern India?Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Women in ancient RomeCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingWomen's position in the Ancient Roman world was important as they played important roles in the home, in business, in religion and even in politics.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing inspiration jamCourse start date: Sun 30 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sue HealyThis fun, inspiring day workshop explores the many sources of inspiration available to writers in their everyday lives.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Looking back: the Ottoman Empire, 1299-1922Course start date: Sat 6 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenWant to know more about the history of the Ottoman Empire and its legacies in the modern Middle East? Join us on this course to get an introduction.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Masters of Cinema: Clint Eastwood - Directing the WestCourse start date: Sun 7 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Graham Rinaldi“The Western brought me a certain notoriety” – Clint Eastwood the last of the Western Film Directors. This course will look at Eastwood’s body of work set in the American Wild West from High Plains Drifter to Cry Macho. We will explore his themes, storytelling, influences and techniques in creating a truly American art form.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Tutankhamun’s fashionCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosalind JanssenRecent examinations of Tutankhamun’s underwear have revealed that the boy king was decidedly ‘pear-shaped’. What can his clothing tell us about the minutiae of daily life in Ancient Egypt? Afternoon visit to the Petrie Museum.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - The MayaCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max CarocciLearn about one of the most magnificent, but misunderstood civilisations of the ancient world - the ancient Maya from the rainforests of Central America. We'll examine their history and culture.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Dickens' LondonCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Molly Rumbelow'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Enjoy this introduction to Dickens' work and the London of his time. Morning lecture at City Lit followed by a walk in the area of the city connected to his work.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Turkey: the first hundred yearsCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michael BloomfieldGoing to Türkiye? Done our Ottoman courses and looking for your next course? Why not join this course and explore the history of Turkey since its formation to its recent renaming to Türkiye?Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
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