Sarah Churchwell and Simon Schama

How did the divisions of the American Revolutionary War play out in literature? On the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Professor of American Literature Sarah Churchwell and historian Simon Schama consider how American and British literature diverged in the wake of revolution – and how these literary traditions eventually found their way back to each other.

With discussion and short readings of their favourite books from both sides of the Atlantic, this session traces how writers responded to political rupture, cultural independence and shared language, and how a transatlantic literary relationship was reshaped, challenged and renewed over time.