The word ‘essay’ derives from the French infinitive essayer, meaning to “try” or “attempt.” But what is it that essays try to do? How can the study of English help us to understand the essay as a specific and intriguing literary form? And how might an awareness of the essay as a form help you in your A-Level study? This taster lecture from Dr Declan Kavanagh will help you think about all these questions and more. His lecture will explore samples of essays from the 18th-century to the present, and feature extracts from The Spectator, The Tatler, and Zadie Smith's more recent 'Meet Justin Bieber!'. Whatever essay-based subject you are studying at A-Level, this session will be valuable for you. Click on the link below for details and the link to attend the event.
https://www.kent.ac.uk/events/event/46953/the-age-of-the-essay