About US

Sarah Churchwell, Professor, University of London

As we wait the outcome of Mr. Trump’s encounters with Lady Justice, one thing is certain, his time on this earth will scar and cripple us and our ancestors for generations to come. 

Like gorging vampires, Trumpism and Trump crawl out of their coffins each night to feast on the blood of their victims, i.e., us. 

In fact, Trumpism and Trump are at once both the Naegleria fowleri, the "brain-eating" shapeshifting amoeboflagellate excavate, the Republican Party,  and the current manifestation of the same-old-same-old conman/fraudster melded with a psychopathic/white supremacist/fascist.

What are we to make of this? How did we get here? What does it say about us?

In an attempt to answer these questions, I’ve posted (below) a presentation and two interviews with Sarah Churchwell, Professor of American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

I found them interesting and enlightening. I hope you will, as well.

The Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series – Professor Sarah Churchwell

University of Birmingham, Jan 14 Jan 2020

Sarah Churchwell is Professorial Fellow in American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and one of the UK’s most prominent public intellectuals and cultural critics.

A renowned specialist in American literature and culture, she appears regularly on current affairs and cultural programmes such as Question Time, Newsnight and the Review Show, and writes for national and international newspapers such as The Guardian and Financial Times. She is the author of ‘The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe’ and ‘Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and the Invention of The Great Gatsby’. Her most recent work ‘Behold, America: A History of the American Dream and America First’ argues that the meanings and history of these terms need to be understood afresh so that the true spirit of America can be reclaimed.

This lecture forms part of ‘The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series,’ which aims to reflect on the major social, scientific, cultural and policy issues of our time.

What is the history of the American Dream? | Sarah Churchwell | 5x15

Nov 6, 2020

Sarah Churchwell is Professor of American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London. She is the author of Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and The Invention of The Great Gatsby and The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe. Her literary journalism has appeared widely in newspapers and she comments regularly on arts, culture, and politics for television and radio. She lives in London.

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each.

Q&A, C-SPAN, Brian Lamb, Host

Sarah Churchwell, 5 Nov 2018

University of London literature Professor Sarah Churchwell talked about her book, Behold America, which looks at the history of the phrases “America First” and “The American Dream.”