Thursday, October 2nd 12:00 – 14:00 (EST)

Marking the celebration of the Year of Cezanne, join travel writer and former French literature professor Lanie Goodman for a captivating two-hour masterclass on a tale of art and nature, friendship and deception: the diverging paths of Paul Cézanne and Émile Zola.

Join Professor Rafe Blaufarb in a captivating online masterclass, “Napoleon: A Political Animal,” delving into the complex persona of Napoleon Bonaparte. This two-hour event offers a fascinating journey into the heart and mind of one of history’s most influential figures. In the first part of the masterclass, Professor Blaufarb provides a comprehensive overview of Napoleon’s early years and rise to prominence, offering insights into the forces that would shape the course of his political journey, and mold the political animal he would become.  The second part of the masterclass focuses on a pivotal period in Napoleon’s reign—the short-lived era of peace (1802-1804)  and the incredible range of lasting accomplishments he achieved during this brief period, to lay the groundwork for fundamental French institutions and civil reforms.

Join us for a two-hour masterclass on Marcel Proust, one of the greatest literary voices of the twentieth century, guided by Professor William Carter, author of the definitive biography Marcel Proust: A Life. In the first hour, we will explore Proust’s life and times, examining his character, development as an artist, and his passionate attachment to his mother, his deep love for the scenes of his youth, his flirtation with Parisian high society, his complicated sexual desires, and his irrevocable commitment to literary truth. In the second part, we will drill down on his masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, exploring its themes, characters, and structure.

Join us for a fascinating two-hour journey into the depths of the Reign of Terror, the most dramatic and violent episode in the French Revolution. Your guide will be Professor Colin Jones, a specialist in the French Revolution and author of a recently-published study of the overthrow of Robespierre and the end of the Terror. This event will take us beyond the ubiquitous images of the Revolutionary Tribunal and the guillotine to analyse the causes, the character and the consequences of the Terror.

Join us for a fascinating two-hour journey into the life, myth, and legacy of Victor Hugo, one of the most celebrated figures in French literature. In this webinar, Professor Bradley Stephens, a specialist in French literature and author of the biography Victor Hugo, Critical Lives, will guide you through Hugo’s life, his importance, and how he has been commemorated. Debunk some of the clichés surrounding this iconic figure and gain a deeper understanding of his work.