From the Lighthouse

Special Event: A Day of Literature, Music & Culture at M on the Bund

A special From the Lighthouse presentation: an evening of poetry and song in China! Featuring Toby Davidson, Jane Messer and Hsu-Ming Teo reading their works, with musical accompaniment by Shu-Cheen Yu.

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

The Life of a Creative Mind: A Discussion with Associate Professor Marcelle Freiman

One of the perks of working in an English department is getting to work alongside writers. This week, Stephanie and Michelle are joined by Associate Professor Marcelle Freiman to discuss Marcelle's writing life. They discuss her youth in South Africa, migration to the UK and Australia, her career as a poet, and the life of a creative mind. 

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that you need not have an excuse to pod about Pride and Prejudice

Do we really need an excuse to talk about Pride and Prejudice? Stephanie is joined by Dr Lee O'Brien and Dr Geoff Payne to talk about everybody's favourite novel and gush about the enduring genius of Jane Austen. 

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Percy Bysshe Shelley, Poet of Poets

In a year of big Romantic anniversaries, Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" celebrates 200 years since its publication on 11 January 2018. To celebrate, Stephanie is joined by Dr Geoff Payne to discuss the poem, Percy Shelley, his scandalous life, and the time somebody tried to assassinate him.

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Best Books of 2017

What were your best books of 2017? This week, Stephanie and Michelle contemplate their year in reading.

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

Sing, O Muse, of the books we loathe: Literary Confessions pt. 1

What books do you absolutely hate? What books have you pretended to have read? Which books are you ashamed of loving? This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy let the silly season go to their heads entirely and spill all their deepest, darkest secrets. Shh, don't tell anyone.

Elf, Rudolph, Mannequin Mom, Mr Hanky, and the Osmonds - it must be the Christmas Show!

Christmas is a time for...escaping family by watching television and reading? This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy discuss their favourite Christmas books, films and tv shows, and Stephanie is mocked for liking Elf. Merry Christmas!

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

The Novel and the Navy: Celebrating 200 Years of Jane Austen's Persuasion and Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen's novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published posthumously in December 1817. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of these novels that bookend Austen's career, Stephanie is joined by Dr Geoff Payne to discuss Anne Elliot, Catherine Morland, the novel, and the Navy.

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

On Speedy Death and the Golden Age of Gladys Mitchell

Gladys Mitchell is one of the most entertaining of the Golden Age detective novelists. However, she's relatively little known today. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy discuss her first novel, Speedy Death, with Dr Lee O'Brien, and make the case that everybody should really be reading Gladys Mitchell. 

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/

The Power of Love, or Why We Read Romance Novels

Romance fiction is often unfairly maligned as silly and escapist, largely because of its association with a female readership, but in terms of popularity, nothing beats romance. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy discuss the phenomenal power of the romance novel with romance expert Associate Professor Hsu-Ming Teo. 

For more info visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/