September brings a welcome chance to hear two thoughtful public conversations led by one of the most respected voices in the history of religion. We are delighted that Jane Shaw will interview John Blair and Anthony Hopkins as part of our speaker programme this September. Both interviews promise to be more than standard speaker sessions. With Shaw guiding the conversation, audiences can expect careful questions, generous listening and a strong sense of the wider historical, r

Why Sarah Clegg’s Work Matters Today Sarah Clegg’s last book Women’s Lore is more than a collection of stories. It is a bridge between the past and present, showing how women’s experiences have shaped culture and identity. Her writing highlights voices often overlooked in mainstream history and literature. This focus on women’s stories offers readers a chance to reflect on the power of tradition and the importance of preserving these narratives. Her work encourages readers to

Kate is a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Harris Manchester College. She has recently been awarded a Major Research Fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust for her project on the history of silence in English. Literature and silence may seem a paradoxical subject, but in its treatment of silence, ‘literature penetrates the most profound aspects of our existence: our relationship with Nature and the divine; our understanding of what makes