Exeter Explores Love, Loss and Literature at 700th Anniversary Humanities Symposium

Exeter’s third 700th Anniversary Symposium took place on Saturday, 8th February 2014. A host of fellows, students and alumni spoke on the subject of ‘History and Fiction’.

Philip Le Brocq (1957, English) describes the day in the following ‘Sonnet’.
“Thirteen hundred and fourteen, April Four” –

Exeter College marks its starting date,

And all the learning since it’s had in store

To-day –“Humanities” we celebrate!

With “Smith and Tallis” Evensong sang out

Last night, harmoniously, our minds prepared,

To challenge –“Facts or Fiction” – which to flout,

Or “How to cope with Traumas”, – terrors bared!

We questioned whether we can ever tell

The Whole Truth of experiences which move

Us deeply so we’re speechless; they, pell-mell

Burst out: and leave us wond’ring what they prove.

We left inspired – Stories still can breach

All country’s bound’ries, and to peoples preach!

Please click here to download a copy of the programme which includes speaker biographies.

A full list of speakers can be found below along with relevant links: