The Public Lecture Series “Urban and Elegant: The Aesthetics of Living in the Modern European City” will provide an overview of the European topography of the so-called ‘elegant world’, an imaginary community of urban origin which gradually superseded predominant social and gender norms in the 19th Century.

Leading international academics will discuss specific media, spaces, and cultural practices of the European urban elite in detail, focusing on the aesthetics of their lifestyle in the imperial metropolises of London, Paris, and Saint Petersburg, as well as in aspiring Central and Eastern European cities.

Lectures will be held at two neighbouring venues on Bloomsbury Square to emphasise the cross-cultural European character of the topic: Pushkin House is hosting the first lecture and the German Historical Institute London will be welcoming the second and third events.

The Public Lecture Series “Urban and Elegant” is organised and introduced by Dr Anna Ananieva, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at Queen Mary University of London.

The lectures begin at 6:30 pm and will be followed by a Q&A session and a wine reception.