Class Description
This course will analyze the institution of the British monarchy and its surprising durability through a treatment of Elizabeth II’s reign of 70 years and 214 days, the longest of any British monarch. While the monarchy long ago lost its effective governing power to parliament, it has maintained its vitality by assuming a largely symbolic and ceremonial role. In this seminar, we will discuss the mystique of the monarchy and its rituals, as well as its role in embodying the rather artificial construct of the British Nation, composed, in fact, of the distinct nations of England, Scotland, and Wales, along with those Irish whose primary identity is British.
Among the events of Elizabeth’s reign to be treated will be the abdication crisis in 1936, when her uncle Edward VIII stepped down "for the woman he loved," making Elizabeth the heir presumptive to the throne; the role of the monarchy in sustaining morale during the Blitz and throughout the Second World War; the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1952; the character of the Queen; her diligent attention to royal duties during an unusually long reign; her role as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England; royal tours and celebrations; the phenomenon of royal celebrity and scandals in the modern media age; the response of the royal family and the public to the shocking death of Princess Diana; the Queen’s relationships with the fifteen British prime ministers who served during her reign; the prospects for the monarchy in the wake of Elizabeth’s death, as a new generation of royals, including Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and their son, Prince George of Cambridge, come to the fore.
Frank Biletz received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 28
Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged
Materials List
Recommended
First Reading
No required reading
A Brief Syllabus
- The Mystique of Monarchy
- Family Background: The Invention of the Windsors
- The Early Reign of Queen Elizabeth
- Elizabeth II as Queen: Crises and Celebrations
- Aspects of the Queen’s Reign and Character
- Princess Diana: Royal Celebrity and Royal Scandal
- “The Glamour of Backwardness”
- The Challenges Facing the British Monarchy
Cost and Registration
8 Sessions, $300 ($270 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($300), Community Supported ($280), and Sponsor ($320). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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