Alice Loxton talks with Tom W. Ayling about her book 'A History of Britain in 21 Paintings', celebrating its publication at Waterstones Piccadilly.
Alice Loxton is in conversation at Waterstones Piccadilly on Monday 23 November, celebrating her new book, A History of Britain in 21 Paintings. It's her fourth book, and the whole thing reads British history through art: it starts with the wall paintings of St Cadoc's Church near Cardiff, moves through the daily life captured by L.S. Lowry, and hits landmark works like the Rainbow Portrait of Elizabeth I and Millais' Ophelia. The evening is built around that — talking through the paintings and the history they pull to the surface.
Loxton is one of the city's more visible historians, known for bringing history to new audiences. She's an experienced writer and presenter who regularly fronts documentaries on History Hit, Channel 4 and the BBC, and wrote UPROAR: Scandal, Satire and Printmakers in Georgian London and Eighteen and Eleanor. Her conversation partner for the night is Tom W. Ayling, who's been selling books for more than a decade and runs Tom W. Ayling Rare Books and Manuscripts, specialising in antiquarian books, rare Tolkien and medieval manuscripts. Between a historian and a rare books dealer, the talk should hold its own on both the art and the objects behind it.
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The event starts at 18:30 at Waterstones Piccadilly, 203-206 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HD. Tickets are £31 for a book and ticket, which includes a copy of A History of Britain in 21 Paintings (RRP £25), £10 for general admission, and £8 for Waterstones Plus cardholders.
