Titles

Most of James’ talks have been delivered on cruises, and some to other audiences. Cruise ship talks are always PowerPoint Presentations, and almost all of the titles listed are available in this format.

Please contact James for brief outlines of any of the talks listed. New talks can be prepared on request for specific cruises, or for other audiences and events.

Global

Magna Carta and its global legacy

Iberian Exploration of the Globe

Imperial Spain

The Habsburg (or Hapsburg) Dynasty

The British Isles
King Arthur: History, Myth and Legend

The Anglo-Saxons (please visit the ‘Talks’ page and click on the link for a summary extract of this)

Thomas Becket and King Henry II (please visit the ‘Talks’ page and click on the link to an extract)

Nations and Kingdoms in Britain

Key turning points in British History – how our maps could have ended up looking very different !

The Lords of the Isles and the Kings of Scots and Norway

‘The Vicar of Bray’: the famous song illustrates the twists and turns of a turbulent, revolutionary era from the Restoration of Charles II to George I, the first Hanoverian king.

War & Peace: Prime Minister Lord Bute, the 7 Years’ War, and 18th century British Politics

“Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland”: literary giant Dr Samuel Johnson’s intrepid and pioneering tour with young Scottish aristocrat and writer James Boswell, in 1773.

Readings, literary walks and non-powerpoint talks

I give talks about Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-84), and also appear as him in reflective mood late in life in the evening, reading from his revealing journals and from some of his most famous letters.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author of ‘The Rights of Man’, ‘Common Sense’ and ‘Age of Reason’ – available as a talk, or as a walk around the historic centre of Lewes, Sussex’s historic county town.

The Baltic and northern Europe

Daily Life in northern Europe in the Middle Ages

The Holy Roman Empire

The Habsburg (or Hapsburg) Dynasty

The rise and fall of Sweden as a great power, and the Vasa dynasty

the Mediterranean, Southern Europe and the near Atlantic

Portuguese Independence and the English / British Alliance

Christian Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages and the Crusades

Galicia: La Corunna, Lugo, and Santiago de Compostela

Imperial Spain

The Roman Republic

The Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire

The Habsburg (or Hapsburg) Dynasty

Garibaldi, Cavour, King Victor Emmanuel, and the unification of Italy as a modern nation state

New titles can be prepared on request as required for specific cruises or other audiences/media.