Public Lecture: 'Writing Home: Nation and empire; Macaulay and the history of England' March 4, 2008

Tuesday 4 March 2008, 5pm-7pm
Room 274, Richard Hoggart Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, Lewisham Way, London, SE14 6NW

Still one of the best known historians of England, the historical writings of Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) have seeped into English consciousness. Professor Catherine Hall will consider his work and its influence in the first Annual Public Lecture in Cultural History at Goldsmiths, University of London.

During her lecture, hosted by the Department of History, Professor Hall will examine why Macaulay’s history has captivated generations of readers. She will consider the story that he tells and what he chooses to exclude, and will ask why this matters now. Exploring the contours of Macaulay's history writing, she will argue that it has been central to definitions of Englishness and an exclusionist 'island story.’

This lecture is free and is open to the public. It will be followed by refreshments. For more information phone 020 7919 7490 or e-mail hss01vr@gold.ac.uk

Catherine Hall is Professor of Modern British Social and Cultural History at University College London. She is the author of several books including ‘Family Fortunes’ with Leonore Davidoff (new 2002 edn), ‘Civilising
Subjects: Metropole and Colony in the English Imagination, 1830-1867’ (2002) and ‘At Home with the Empire: Metropolitan Culture and the Imperial World’ edited with Sonya O Rose (2006).

Official Website: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/history/