In this fabulously watchable series, QI’s Director of Information John Mitchinson teaches us about the lives, loves and work of six great Victorians.
Each lecture in this six-part course, totalling over 90 minutes of video, is accompanied by handy notes featuring datelines and further reading. The videos can by watched limitless times.
Lesson One: Florence Nightingale – Did you know that Nightingale went to bed for fifty years?
Lesson Two: William Morris – More than just a wallpaper designer, Morris was a political revolutionary.
Lesson Three: Karl Marx – Find out about the theorist’s poor health, lack of money and heavy drinking.
Lesson Four: Charles Darwin – Learn why Darwin was such a worrier.
Lesson Five: Mary Kingsley – A brilliant female explorer and best-selling author.
Lesson Six: Frank Buckland – Eater of bluebottles and other strange animals.
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3/11/2014
Indeed, A Job Well Done
Many thanks to John Mitchinson for this wonderfully informative romp through the lives of some of Victorian England's most interesting people. The portraits of well-known Victorians yield plenty of new and deliciously offbeat information, while the introduction to such singular characters as John Buckland and Mary Kingsley is delightful fun. Whoever thinks that the Victorians were somehow stuffy needs this class. Thanks, John, for shining a light on a well-chosen collection of heroes and oddballs, helping plodders like me discover them anew.