The Brown Travelersnnicholasicholas Bbrownrown Pprofessorrofessor Ooff Ooratoryratory Aandnd Bbelleselles Llettres,Ettres, Eemeritusmeritus Aatt Bbrownrown
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WWithith GGeoffreyeoffrey RRussom,ussom, EEmeritusmeritus PProfessorrofessor ooff EEnglishnglish aandnd MMedievaledieval SStudiestudies aandnd The Brown Travelers NNicholasicholas BBrownrown PProfessorrofessor ooff OOratoryratory aandnd BBelleselles LLettres,ettres, EEmeritusmeritus aatt BBrownrown OXFORD ◆ ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE ◆ COTSWOLDS FFeaturingeaturing DDowntonownton AAbbeybbey ◆ BBlenheimlenheim PPalacealace July 7 to 15, 2017 Dear Graduates, Parents and Friends of Brown: For many, the unspoiled nature of England, Shakespeare’s “blessed plot,” lies in the traditional ways of town and country life practiced for centuries in this storied island’s idyllic university towns, pastoral villages, and picturesque countrysides. Experience the time-honored quest for knowledge as played out in the hallowed classrooms, dining halls, and quadrangles of Oxford University. Learn more about how the legacy of days gone by transcends time and forms the roots of contemporary country life as you interact with village residents. Call on stunning Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit incredible Windsor Castle, a royal residence of England’s monarchy since the 11th century and the largest inhabited castle in the world. Uncover the deep history behind Highclere Castle, the authentic Victorian manor house now known as “Downton Abbey.” Savor the extraordinary experience of traveling in a small, merry group to the university town of Oxford and through the Cotswold region—town and country juxtaposed—discovering the great heritage and character of England’s historic academic centers, great country manor houses and enchanting villages. Explore the age-old traditions of Oxford and become more familiar with the lives of great authors and icons of English history who were educated here or hailed from the surrounding region. Admire the picture-perfect scenery of thatched-roof cottages, English fl ower gardens and gentle streams, framed by the bucolic Cotswold landscape and dotted with evocative ruins and spectacular medieval churches built from the wealth of the wool trade. Hear about contemporary life from the local residents during the exclusive TOWN & COUNTRY LIFE® FORUM. Experience the best of quintessentially English culture while staying in an iconic, Five-Star hotel moments away from the regal grounds of Windsor Castle; a deluxe, typically English hotel in the center of a quaint country village; and a historic, Five-Star hotel ideally located in the heart of medieval Oxford. We will share this departure with alumni and friends from the University of Illinois and La Salle University. Space is limited, so make your reservation today. Sincerely, Beth Goldman Galer ’88 Director of the Alumni Travel Program Faculty Lecturer Geoffrey Russom, Emeritus Professor of English and Medieval Studies and Nicholas Brown Professor of Oratory and Belles Lettres, Emeritus Geoffrey Russom came to Brown’s English department in 1972 and retired in 2009. He has taught courses on the history and structure of English, Medieval English languages and literatures, and linguistics for students of English. As a founding member of Brown’s interdisciplinary Medieval Studies program, Russom participated in a team-taught introductory course and contributed seminars on Old Norse, Old Irish, and Gothic. He has chaired both the English department and the Medieval Studies program. Russom’s academic interests and responsibilities have been much like those of J.R.R. Tolkien, who held a similar position at Oxford University, where he taught Old English and published a remarkably infl uential lecture on Beowulf. In response to undergraduate interest, Russom has taught a student-organized Tolkien seminar and has given talks to student groups on Tolkien’s invented languages. He has published several books of original research as well as numerous articles in literary and linguistics journals and has edited books on medieval and linguistic topics. Russom continues to publish actively in retirement. He accompanied the Brown Travelers on a previous trip and received rave reviews. Cover: Stroll through Oxford, the “city of dreaming spires,” and see the impressive architecture of this world-famous Walk among quaint row houses in the tranquil university town. Cotswold village of Burford. ◆ ◆ OXFORD ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE COTSWOLDS Experience fi rsthand the storied destinations and steadfast traditions that have shaped English character for centuries in Oxford, the medieval town that serves as a beacon of academia; in the royal borough of Windsor and its revered castle, an offi cial residence of the Royal Family for more than 900 years; and in the quintessentially English Cotswold villages spread across the seemingly endless verdant shires of England—Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire—where bucolic country Fortis est Veritas— life unfolds amidst charming villages, rolling vales and lush woodlands. “The truth is strong”— Learn about the rhythms of daily life and the generations-old customs and proclaims the Coat of Arms of the city of Oxford. ceremonies of the hallowed universities in England’s towns, chinwag with local village residents and chat with the ladies and chaps of the countryside. Enjoy an enriching and intimate small group travel experience like no other, including all excursions, deluxe accommodations and specially arranged meals— an excellent value. This exclusive program is one of the popular TOWN & COUNTRY LIFE® series that immerses you in an intimate, comprehensive travel experience at just the right pace. CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS are specially arranged and only available on this custom-designed itinerary: ◆ Enjoy an authentic experience in historic English university towns, a royal residence and in quaint, traditional Cotswold villages and countrysides. ◆ Immerse yourself in a carefully planned, balanced itinerary of all included, guided historical and cultural excursions and time on your own to partake in local daily rituals while sipping afternoon tea, watching punting boats glide along the River Thames or having a Pimm’s cup in a local pub. ◆ Explore the ornate State Apartments of medieval Windsor Castle, the vast country estate of the former English and current British monarchies and the largest inhabited castle on Earth. ◆ Tour UNESCO World Heritage-designated Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and enjoy a private lunch in the lavishly decorated Indian Room. ◆ Visit “Downton Abbey,” the splendid, authentic Victorian-era Highclere Castle, to explore the estate’s magnifi cent period state rooms, special Egyptian exhibition and extensive gardens; and the village of Bampton, a fi lming site for PBS’s popular MASTERPIECE series. ◆ Experience the venerable tradition of Formal Hall dining during the exclusive, private Farewell Dinner in one of Oxford University’s grand collegiate dining halls. ◆ Hear it from the Experts! Experienced, accredited local guides will accompany you throughout the program and share their expertise of historical, cultural and contemporary England. ◆ Engage locals during the TOWN & COUNTRY LIFE® FORUM, where residents share their stories and discuss contemporary life in the Cotswolds. The long twilight glow of a perfect English summer evening sweeps over Chipping Campden, a serene, quintessential Cotswold village with a deep-rooted history in the wool trade. ITINERARY STRATFORD- ENGLAND Day UPON-AVON ◆ TOW ON CAMBRIDGE’S COLLEGES AND CHAPELS S - - HIPPING AMPDEN THE OLD CAMBRIDGE PRE-PROGRAM OPTION C C -W 1 Depart the U.S. BROADWAY Blenheim Palace LADON 2 LONDON, ENGLAND/WINDSOR BURFORD B Check into the Five-Star CIRENCESTER R OXFORD iviv MACDONALD WINDSOR HOTEL. e BIBURY r BAMPTON T h LONDON 3 WINDSOR/BROADWAY ames CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS: Highclere WINDSOR ◆ Visit to medieval Windsor Castle, UNESCO Castle World Heritage Site country residence of the British monarchy. Air Routing Check into the deluxe LYGON ARMS HOTEL. Cotswolds nnel 4 BROADWAY/COTSWOLD VILLAGES English Cha ◆ Excursion to Cirencester, Bibury and Burford. CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS: Windsor, England ® ◆ TOWN & COUNTRY LIFE FORUM. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, 5 BROADWAY/STRATFORD-UPON-AVON/ William the Conqueror called for the building COTSWOLD VILLAGES of a fortress in Windsor, which became a ◆ Excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon, residence of the English monarchy fi rst used Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden. by King Henry I. When England, Scotland and CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Ireland merged and became the United Kingdom, ◆ Visit the childhood cottage and gardens of the British monarchy was established, and the Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife. ◆ th castle has served as the Royal Family’s sprawling Learn about the prosperous 14 -century country estate ever since. English wool trade and the wealth it generated. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Tour Windsor Castle’s 6 BROADWAY/BLENHEIM PALACE /BLADON/OXFORD ◆ lavish State Apartments, adorned with Privately guided tour of Blenheim Palace. priceless original furniture, decor and fi ne art ◆ Visit to Sir Winston Churchill’s grave refl ecting the changing tastes of English and in Bladon. ◆ Walking tour of Oxford. British royalty over centuries. CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS: Broadway ◆ Private luncheon in Blenheim Palace. Simply beautiful, Broadway was fi rst settled by Check into the Five-Star the Romans in Worcestershire and is often MACDONALD RANDOLPH HOTEL. referred to as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds.” 7 OXFORD/“DOWNTON ABBEY” A frequent retreat of William Morris,