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biography

# Episode Title Description People Date
1 Dostoevsky at 200: A roundtable An event with leading scholars and the novelist Alex Christofi, to mark the bicentenary of Dostoevsky's birth by discussing new approaches to the work and life of this titanic figure. Yuri Corrigan, Lynn Ellen Patyk, Alex Christofi, Caryl Emerson 28 May 2021
2 A Concatenation of Rumour Part of the Humanities Cultural Programme, one of the founding stones for the future Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. Nana Oforiatta Ayim, Richard Rathbone 24 May 2021
3 Spoken memoir of Professor Jon Stallworthy A speech given by Sir Richard Sorabji at the launch party for the Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize Campaign. Richard Sorabji 21 Nov 2019
4 Creative Commons Brilliant Paradoxes and Corrosive Epigrams; or Why Oscar Wilde Went to Trial Sos Eltis looks at Oscar Wilde’s 1895 trial. Sos Eltis 04 Mar 2019
5 Wonder This programme examines different meanings of 'wonder' in Lear - as both a positive and a negative emotion, and as something in between. Jasmine Jagger 04 Apr 2018
6 Nadifa Mohamed on travelling, home and belonging in Black Mamba Boy Nadifa Mohamed reads from and discusses her debut novel, Black Mamba Boy (2010), based on her father’s travels across the Horn of Africa before settling in Britain. Nadifa Mohamed, Kate Wallis 25 Aug 2017
7 2016 Disability Lecture: A Psychiatrist's Experience of Depression Professor Linda Gask had a successful career as psychiatrist and academic, despite living with depression and anxiety. She speaks with candour about her experiences of periods of mental ill-health. Linda Gask 07 Jun 2016
8 Ted Hughes: The Unauthorised Life Jonathan Bate, Anne Farrar Donovan, Seamus Perry and Oliver Taplin discuss life-writing, poetry and the poet Jonathan Bate, Seamus Perry, Oliver Taplin, Anne Farrar Donovan 20 Oct 2015
9 True Colours: A Natural History of Louis Renard's Poissons (1719) Professor Michael Suarez continues the Lyell Lectures 2015, asking what role colour plays in bibliographical description? Michael Suarez 18 May 2015
10 Humanities and Science: Representing Science An interdisciplinary discussion exploring the many possible approaches to representing science through the arts, as well as potential challenges Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Heidi Johansen-Berg, Jason Gaiger, Annie Cattrell 17 Mar 2015
11 Danger Speakers for our seminar on the theme of Danger have Medical and Humanities backgrounds, and will consider the following: experimentation to diminish danger; the risks of ignoring danger, danger to the self and the ideal. Marion Kibuka, Yasmin Khan, Anna Beer 12 Aug 2014
12 Creative Commons James D Murray, reflections of a life in academia, in conversation with Phillip Maini Jim Murray is one of the leading mathematical biologists of our times. James D Murray, Phillip Maini 02 Apr 2014
13 Meet the Scientists - Collaborations with the Oxford Botanic Garden Alison Foster, Senior Curator of the Oxford Botanic Garden, discusses her daily work and the transition she has made from working in a lab to working in the garden. Alison Foster 09 Oct 2013
14 Meet the Scientists - Solar Fuels and Artificial Photosynthesis Andreas Bachmeier, a DPhil student in the Armstrong Group, Oxford University, gives a glimpse into his research and his life outside of work, including a love for rowing and German beer. Andreas Bachmeier 09 Oct 2013
15 Meet the Scientists - Transparent Conductors Alex T. Vai, DPhil student in the Donohoe Group, University of Oxford, describes his exciting research into touch-screen technology and also tells of his outside work ventures in orienteering and orchestra. Alex T. Vai 04 Oct 2013
16 Meet the Scientists - Solar Fuels, Bacteria and Hydrogen Dr Rhiannon Evans from the Armstrong Group, University of Oxford, gives a short account of her research studies into solar fuels, as well as giving an insight to her life outside of research. Rhiannon Evans 04 Oct 2013
17 Meet the Scientists - Solar Fuels and Enzymes Susannah Hexter, DPhil Student in the Armstrong Group, University of Oxford, describes her love for Chemistry and discusses her hobbies outside of work. Susannah Hexter 04 Oct 2013
18 Picasso: Passions and Politics British Art Historian and Picasso Biographer Sir John Richardson in conversation with Gijs van Hensbergen. Sir John Richardson, Gijs van Hensbergen 04 Jul 2013
19 Creative Commons Freud's Impossible Life Renowned psychologist, literary critic and essayist Adam Phillips delivers a public lecture at Wolfson College on his work on 'Freud's Impossible Life'. The lecture is introduced by the College President, Hermione Lee. Adam Phillips 22 Nov 2012
20 Creative Commons "Oh, you liar, you storyteller": On Fibbing, Fact and Fabulation The first Weinrebe lecture in life-writing was given by Michèle Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. The lecture is introduced by Professor Hermione Lee. Michèle Roberts 07 Mar 2012
21 Creative Commons Where may truth lie? Fiction in memory, memory in fiction The award-winning author and memoirist Candia McWilliam attests to the edifying power of fiction and biography in the third lecture in the Weinrebe series from the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing. Candia McWilliam 20 Feb 2012
22 Creative Commons What can I say? Secrets in fiction and biography Booker Prize winning novelist Alan Hollinghurst discusses fiction and biography in conversation with Hermione Lee at Wolfson College's Oxford Centre for Life-Writing (OCLW). Alan Hollinghurst, Hermione Lee 08 Feb 2012
23 All About His Mother: Reading Proust's Letters The inaugural lecture of the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing was delivered by Micahel Wood, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Princeton University. He was introduced by Hermione Lee, President of Wolfson College and Director of the Centre. Michael Wood 16 Nov 2011
24 Creative Commons Brought to Book: Book History and the Idea of Literature Professor Paul Eggert, University of New South Wales, gives the 17th Annual D.F. McKenzie lecture on the subject of books and gives a case study of Henry Lawson, Australian author of Where the Billy Boils. Paul Eggert 09 Mar 2011
25 Creative Commons Brought to Book: Book History and the Idea of Literature Professor Paul Eggert, University of New South Wales, gives the 17th Annual D.F. McKenzie lecture on the subject of books and gives a case study of Henry Lawson, Australian author of Where the Billy Boils. Paul Eggert 09 Mar 2011
26 Creative Commons Harriet Shelley - Letter to Eliza Westbrook, Shelley and her parents Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Harriet Shelley drowned herself in December 1816, aged twenty-one. Her body was recovered from the Serpentine on 10 December, and an inquest into the death of one 'Harriet Smith' was held the following day. Hannah Morrell 02 Dec 2010
27 Creative Commons Harriet Shelley - Letter to Eliza Westbrook, Shelley and her parents Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Harriet Shelley drowned herself in December 1816, aged twenty-one. Her body was recovered from the Serpentine on 10 December, and an inquest into the death of one 'Harriet Smith' was held the following day. Hannah Morrell 02 Dec 2010
28 Creative Commons Mary Shelley - Letter to Percy Bysshe Shelley Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Shelley and Mary arrived back in London to face the almost universal disapproval of family and friends, and severe money problems. Nouran Koriem 02 Dec 2010
29 Creative Commons Mary Shelley - Letter to Percy Bysshe Shelley Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Shelley and Mary arrived back in London to face the almost universal disapproval of family and friends, and severe money problems. Nouran Koriem 02 Dec 2010
30 Creative Commons Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley - Joint journal entry Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Shelley and Mary eloped at 4.15 am on 28 July 1814, accompanied by Mary's step-sister Jane Clairmont. Henry Cockburn 02 Dec 2010
31 Creative Commons Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley - Joint journal entry Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Shelley and Mary eloped at 4.15 am on 28 July 1814, accompanied by Mary's step-sister Jane Clairmont. Henry Cockburn 02 Dec 2010
32 Creative Commons William Godwin: Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Godwin's memoir of Mary Wollstonecraft has been called the first modern biography. At the time, however, its frankness and emotional candour provoked general outrage. Henry Cockburn 02 Dec 2010
33 Creative Commons William Godwin: Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman Part of the Shelley's Ghost Exhibition. Godwin's memoir of Mary Wollstonecraft has been called the first modern biography. At the time, however, its frankness and emotional candour provoked general outrage. Henry Cockburn 02 Dec 2010
34 Creative Commons A Florence Nightingale for the 21st Century From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Marjorie Reeves Memorial lecture given in St Anne's College. Mark Bostridge, author of the first major biography of Florence Nightingale in 50 years talks about the great woman's life and character. Mark Bostridge 25 Oct 2010
35 Creative Commons A Florence Nightingale for the 21st Century From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Marjorie Reeves Memorial lecture given in St Anne's College. Mark Bostridge, author of the first major biography of Florence Nightingale in 50 years talks about the great woman's life and character. Mark Bostridge 25 Oct 2010
36 Creative Commons Senses of Reality: Writing the Biography of a Revolutionary Generation The annual Isaiah Berlin Lecture given at Wolfson College on May 27th 2010. Roy Foster 08 Jun 2010