St Mary’s Announces Return of Walpole Public Lecture series

St Mary's University, Twickenham is delighted to announce the return of the Walpole Public Lecture series this autumn.

The Series is an opportunity to discover more about the work, interests and cutting-edge research of academics in the Institute of Theology and Liberal Arts in a relaxed and accessible environment.

The first of three events, What is Public History will be held on the 6^th of October 2022. Presented by Dr Mark Donnelly Associate Professor in History at St Mary's, this lecture will discuss the notion that how we understand the past shapes many contemporary debates about politics and culture. However, it is not always clear how the traditional practices associated with history as an academic subject relate to these questions. While exploring the different kinds of 'public' activity that historians have engaged in and how this may help the subject of History remain relevant.

The second event, delivered by the Course Lead of our Creative Writing programmes, Dr Russell Schechter will be held on the 20^th of October 2022. 'A Novel Idea' - Creative Writing Taster Workshop is an opportunity for aspiring writers at all stages to discover ways to develop their ideas and take the first steps to begin their writing process.

The final event of the series, Napoleon and History will be hosted by Dr Stewart McCain Senior Lecturer in History, on the 10^th of November 2022. The lecture will explore how the Napoleonic regime used historical narratives and symbolism to maintain power and the role of history in the context of politics and the public.

Subject Lead for the Postgraduate taught programmes in the Institute of Theology and Liberal Arts at St Mary's, Dr Stewart McCain said "We are delighted to have the opportunity to share some of our work with the University and local community. I think that this should be a thought-provoking and engaging series for everyone, and one that addresses questions that society is grappling with right now".

All the events will be held in the historic Waldegrave Drawing Room from 6:15pm - 7:30pm. They are free to attend and open to all. To explore a topic from a range of fields including History, Literature, and Theology, book your place on the University website.