The eminent historian Sir Simon Schama will speak about his latest book, Belonging: The Story of the Jews 1492-1900. In this second volume of his Jewish history trilogy, Schama studies a crucial time period—from the expulsion of Jews from Spain, to the beginnings of Zionism—by immersing his readers in the lives of individuals both well-known and obscure. The Times Literary Supplement calls it “an extraordinary feat of historical imagination…so beautifully written it regularly takes your breath away.” Schama’s accompanying television series, “The Story of the Jews”, was broadcast by PBS in 2014.

Simon Schama is University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. He has lectured in history at Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard, and is a presenter of the BBC’s landmark 2018 art- history series “Civilisations.” In June Sir Simon was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.