Jonathan Richardson the Younger, Portrait of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (detail), 1725

Sandon Hall, Stafford 

This image, via: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jonathan_Richardson_d._J._001.jpg

Pioneering global exploration is traditionally thought of as a series of Boys’ Own Adventures, featuring dashing – and occasionally dastardly – chaps. But in fact, it wasn’t all about the men!

Lady Wortley Montagu was one of the first Western women to live at the Ottoman court (other than as a concubine, that is). The first person to investigate the archaeology of Ancient Syria was Lady Hester Stanhope. A little later, Lady Florence Dixie travelled the deserts of Patagonia and South Africa, and at the dawn of the twentieth century, Gertrude Bell traversed the Middle East and became the veritable Daughter of the Desert.

These remarkable women dared to venture forth. Let us follow them on their pioneering adventures.

RJW F2635 Online (via Zoom)

A 5-hour short course, delivered via 2 x 2½-hour sessions on consecutive Saturdays (Saturday 7 & Saturday 14 November).

£40 (individual registration); £72 (for two people sharing one screen).