Spellbinding – review of Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the British Library
Containing J K Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscripts, the British Library’s exhibition: Harry Potter: A History of Magic is packed with magical delights.
Read More Menander and The Woman from Messene
The comedian Menander (342-490 BC), remains one of ancient Greece’s most influential playwrights. He was the leading representative of New Comedy, a theatrical form that originated in Athens. Plays of this kind focused on the struggles of everyday life, from issues concerning marriage, to money. Despite writing over one hundred plays during his lifetime, only […]
Read MoreNew Woman Writers
In 1894, the novelist Sarah Grand introduced the term ‘New Woman’ in her essay ‘The New Aspect of the Woman Question’ published in the North American Review. The New Woman was a dominant figure during the 1890s and the early 20th century, and threatened ideals of femininity with her demands for the vote, education and […]
Read MoreThe Legend of Saint George and the Dragon
St George’s legendary fight against the dragon is firmly embedded in England’s cultural history. But who was St George, and why has he become so famous? Little is known about the exact details of St George’s life, but he is believed to have been born in Cappadocia (an area in modern day Turkey), in the […]
Read MoreCultivating Communities: The Influence of Continental Women on English Medieval Women’s Literate Practices
The fifteenth century saw the emergence of continental women’s mystical works appearing in England, facilitated by the early printed textual tradition of Wynkyn de Worde and William Caxton (Grisé Holy Women in Print 83). Indeed, the translation of the works of women such as St Catherine of Siena (1347-8), St Bridget of Sweden (c.1302/3-73), and […]
Read MoreAn introduction to the Exeter Book
In 970 AD, one of the UK’s greatest literary treasures was written: the Exeter Book. It is probably the oldest surviving book of poetry from Anglo-Saxon England, and contains a fascinating array of Old English works, from Christian and elegaic poems, to riddles! The book was bequeathed to Exeter Cathedral Library by the first bishop […]
Read MoreWilliam Wordsworth and the Lake District
The Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) spent most of his life in the Lake District, living with his sister Dorothy and his wife Mary Hutchinson. In this video I’ll show you the places and landscapes that influenced his poetry! Places Featured: Dove Cottage, Grasmere Owned by the Wordsworth Trust, Dove Cottage is lovely to explore, […]
Read MoreSweeney Todd and The String of Pearls
The fictional story of Sweeney Todd, the London barber who kills his victims and makes them into pies with his accomplice Mrs Lovett, has captivated audiences for almost two hundred years. While numerous films ensure Todd’s tale remains in the popular imagination, where did his story originate? In 1846-7 the British “hack writer” Thomas Preskett […]
Read MoreThe Victoria Letters by Helen Rappaport
In the popular imagination, perceptions of Queen Victoria are associated with ideas of her as a formidable monarch, often stating “We are not amused”. However, Helen Rappaport’s book, The Victoria Letters, written in conjunction with ITV’s television series Victoria, incorporates Queen Victoria’s diaries to bring to life her vivacious and gregarious personality, focusing on events […]
Read MoreThe Great Fire of London and The Diary of Samuel Pepys
350 years ago on the 2nd September 1666, the Great Fire of London began, causing significant destruction throughout the city. Over 100,000 people lost their homes and 436 acres of city were destroyed before the fire was extinguished on the 6th September 1666. But how did the fire start, and what do literary works have […]
Read More