There is increased interest in the Tudors, as evidenced by the current exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Henry Tudor – Henry VIII of England – needed a son to consolidate his hold on the throne. In pursuit of this quest, he married six times and upended the religious life of his country. This course will examine his family background, the biographies of his wives, and the social and political currents of the time in which they all lived. Was he a tyrant or victim? And was there a fatal flaw in his genes that prevented him from realizing his quest? These will be explored through a review of the latest scholarship.

Karen Gleeson is a long-time Tudor enthusiast.  She has a background in anthropology and the social sciences,  has been active in Senior College for some years, and is currently the Chair of the Curriculum Committee.  She has taught courses in Belfast Senior College as well as Augusta SC, including this course a few years ago, although there have been some new information that will be incorporated into this class.

Each week a different one act play will be read aloud by the class.

The plays will be chosen by the class leaders with an eye to plays that are thought provoking and relevant to our time. There will be time after the reading for reflection and discussion that will be facilitated by the leader of the class. A set of scripts will be brought to each class for use by the members of the class during class time.

Beth Whitman and Tom Maycock, both of who are involved with The Belfast Maskers, will be leading this table reading group.