Weinrebe Lecture: Jenny Uglow, ‘A Year with Gilbert White’

This annual lecture is a collaboration between OCLW and the University of Birmingham’s ‘Arts of Place’ research network.

In this lecture, Jenny Uglow OBE will discuss her new book, A Year With Gilbert White: The Story of a Nature Writer (to be published by Faber this September). Jenny is the author of highly acclaimed biographies and histories, including the classic of Midlands history, The Lunar Men: The Friends Who Made the Future.

A Year With Gilbert White

In 1781, the year this talk springs from, Gilbert White was a country curate in the Hampshire village he had known all his life. He kept journals for many years and was now halfway through completing his Natural History of Selbourne – in print since 1789, paving the way for later naturalists. No one had written like this before, with such close observation, humour, and sympathy.

Often called ‘the father of ecology’, White noted the results of ‘watching narrowly’ in his Naturalist’s Journal. Through this we follow the seasons, from frost to drought, noting everything from the migration of birds to the sex lives of snails, and the vagaries of village life—a determined local record, imbued with a profound sense of place.

Further Details:

After the event, join us for a complimentary wine reception.

This is an in-person event that is free and open to all. Registration is recommended.

Information for visitors: The University of Birmingham Arts Building is in the red zone on this Campus map. Trains run regularly from Birmingham New Street to ‘University’ rail station, bringing you right onto campus. For drivers, we recommend the multi-storey North-East Car Park, off Pritchatt’s Road. Visitors might like to leave time to explore the university buildings, for example, the public sculpture on this trail.

Queries regarding this event should be addressed to Niamh Lawlor (NXL744@student.bham.ac.uk) or Alexandra Harris (a.harris.2@bham.ac.uk).