The Modern France group this year are going to look at doing a course on Anglo-French relations across the centuries, which has meant going all the way back to the Hundred Years’ War, when in French eyes England was the natural hereditary enemy (devastation of the French landscape, burning of Joan of Arc, the humiliation of the French monarchy as Henry V accompanied by his young French bride and the defeated French king walked hand in hand to Henry’s majestic coronation as the official King of France! )
They have continued that theme by looking at rivalry under Henry VIII recently, moving on to the different patterns of the Reformation and the “miracle” of an Anglo-French alliance under Queen Elizabeth. One useful by-product of the course has been an appreciation through new eyes of the nature of Scotland across the centuries. For the Scots France was long seen as the key to success against the despised “Sassenachs”. There’ll be more excitement when they get to the 18th century, not to mention Napoleon.
If you would like to join the group they meet and the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month at 2.30 to 4.30pm. At Lydiate Village Centre Lambshear Lane. Call David Ward for more details 526 5071