The Essay Episodes Available now
Isaac Newton—Five Portraits of Science
3/5 Historian Patricia Fara on how Isaac Newton became the quintessential English genius.
Galileo—Five Portraits of Science
2/5 Writer Andrew Brown unpicks the narrative of Galileo's battle with the Roman Inquisition.
John Dee—Five Portraits of Science
1/5 Jonathan Sawday explores the cultural legacy of alchemist, astrologer and magus John Dee.
Cubism—Paris 1913
5/5 Adam Gopnik discusses Cubism in 1913 Paris, considering it as a form of poetic realism.
Le Grand Meaulnes—Paris 1913
4/5 Writer Michele Roberts assesses the impact of Alain-Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes.
Alcools—Paris 1913
3/5 Martin Sorrell explores on Apollinaire's ground-breaking volume of poetry, Alcools.
The Rite of Spring—Paris 1913
2/5 Richard Witts focuses on the notorious opening of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.
Swann's Way—Paris 1913
1/5 Why Marcel Proust's Swann's Way was among highlights of a great year for Parisian culture.
Mark Adkin—Napoleon and Me
5/5 Mark Adkin discusses being a military historian in the footsteps of Napoleon.
Kirsteen McCue—Napoleon and Me
4/5 Kirsteen McCue discusses singing and interpreting James Hogg's Scottish Napoleonic songs.
