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Women Explorers of the Victorian and Edwardian Eras

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The ESU-Princeton Branch Presents: 
A Talk on Women Explorers of the Victorian and Edwardian Eras

The Middle East captured the popular imagination of England of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and held a special allure for three women famous for their brains and courage: Lady Hester Stanhope, Lady Jane Digby, and Gertrude Bell, CBE. The exploits of these women explorers will be the topic of a talk by Ronald Schnur at the April 28th meeting of the English-Speaking Union of Princeton. Mr. Schnur is a popular presenter, whose talks to the ESU-Princeton never fail to educate and entertain.  He is a long-time Princeton resident, who, with his wife, Sandy, has traveled through Great Britain on numerous occasions.   

The talk will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at the Center for Modern Aging, Princeton, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton, NJ.  The public is welcome to attend.  There is no charge for the talk, and refreshments will be served afterwards.  Questions? Email: princeton@esuus.org.

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The ESU-Princeton Branch Presents: A Talk on Contemporary South African Literature by Dr. Mindi McMann

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Dr. Mindi McMann will explore the impact of occupation on ordinary inhabitants' self-perception and life opportunities as expressed in contemporary South African literature. The talk will be held on Sunday, March 3, at 3:00 pm, at the Center for Modern Aging, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton, NJ.

Dr. Mindi McMann is an associate professor of English literature at the College of New Jersey.

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Princeton Branch Shakespeare Competition

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Princeton Branch Shakespeare Competition

On Sunday, February 25, the annual Shakespeare competition will be held by the Princeton Branch of the English-Speaking Union. The competition will begin at 3:00 p.m., and takes place in the Ding Music Hall on the campus of the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. All ESU members and the public are welcome to attend.  Refreshments will be served following the performances. Approximately a dozen schools will participate, with each student performing a soliloquy and a sonnet.  The winner of the competition will progress to the National Shakespeare Competition on April 15, 2024, at Lincoln Center in New York City.  

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The National Shakespeare Competition Starts Now!

Announcement – October 30, 2023

We are pleased to announce the kick-off of the ESU's National Shakespeare Competition! Schools in our region may enter now, giving students the opportunity to compete in The Princeton Branch Competition.  The winner of the branch competition will travel to NYC to compete in the national finals at Lincoln Center!  

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The Landscape of Scotland with Dr. Peter Smith

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The English-Speaking Union 
Princeton Branch Presents:

The Landscape of Scotland
with Dr. Peter Smith

October 29th, 3:00 PM

Scotland is a small country with a dramatic variety of landscapes - from the mountains and islands of the northwest to the central lowlands. We will review the numerous interesting features here (with many examples) and the underlying forces that give us such a rich history – for example, the great faults that shape the country. Movies and reading materials will be recommended for further study by past and future visitors.

Dr Peter M. Smith is Scottish born and educated although he has lived in the USA for over 40 years, working in the Pharma industry as a project manager. He is married with two grown children and lives in Princeton. He has a strong love for his native Scottish landscape which he knows well. In this presentation, he will review the great forces which have given us these magnificent views with many examples.

DATE: OCTOBER 29TH, 2023

TIME: 3.00 PM

PLACE: PRINCETON SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER [101 POOR FARM RD.]

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2023 TEACHERS LEARNING ABROAD CHRISTINE LOTZ AND TIFFANY WILSON

Event – Sunday September 24th, 2023

THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION PRINCETON BRANCH PRESENTS:

2023 TEACHERS LEARNING ABROAD CHRISTINE LOTZ AND TIFFANY WILSON

We are thrilled to start off our 2023-2024 lectures with presentations by Scholarship winners Christine Lotz and Tiffany Wilson.  Christine elected to study at the Globe Theatre and Tiffany chose to attend the program at Edinburgh University.  They will share with us the highlights of their studies abroad and how they plan to transition their experiences into their individual class rooms.

Date: September 24, 2023

Time: 3:00 PM

Place: Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton

Refreshments will be provided!

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Ronald Schnur: The Historic Gentlemen's Clubs of London

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The English-Speaking Union of the United States Princeton Branch Presents:

Ronald Schnur
The Historic Gentlemen's Clubs of London

Ronald Schnur will tell us about the historic gentlemen's clubs of London—the various homes away from home for the elite in British politics, science, and the arts

Date: Sunday November 13th
When: 3:00 PM
Where: Princeton Senior Resource Center

There will also be a Zoom link provided.

Refreshments to follow! Please join us!

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Thomas Kopache: Performing Shakespeare

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The English-Speaking Union of the United States Princeton Branch Presents:

Thomas Kopache - Actor
Performing Shakespeare

Thomas Kopache is an actor born in Manchester, New Hampshire on October 17, 1945 who is best known for his role as Assistant Secretary of State Bob Slatterly on The West Wing (1999) and for appearing in many roles on all of the various "star Tre" spin-off television shows. Kopache has played seven characters on the "Star Trek" spin-offs Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star-Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), and Star Trek: Enterprise. He also appeared in the Star Trek mobie Star Trek: Generations (1994) and the "Star Trek"-inspired sci-fi TV series Babylon 5 (1993). In addition to being the only actor to appear in all seven "Star Trek" franchises, he also acted in Murder, She Wrote, Melrose Place, Law & Order, As the World Turns, LA Law, and many more. His Shakespeare roles include Creon in Antigone and the banished Duke in As You Like It. 

Date: Sunday October 23rd
When: 3:00 PM
Where: Princeton Senior Resource Center

Inclusion by Zoom Conference also available

Refreshments will be served!

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Ms. Cassie Fallon: 2022 TLab Scholar

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The English-Speaking Union of the United States Princeton Branch Presents:

Ms. Cassie Fallon
Our TLab (Travel and Learn Abroad) Scholar 2022: Her Experiences at the University of Edinburgh

Ms. Fallon has been an English teacher for 29 years at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in Rumson. She has taught multiple levels and courses over the years, but is currently teaching English I (freshmen) and English III (juniors). She is also the advisor for the Cooking Club in high school. She was enrolled in Contemporary Literature at the University of Edinburgh this summer, and will share with us her plans to incorporate some of that information in her lesson plans for the juniors.

Date: Sunday September 25th

When: 3:00 PM

Where: Princeton Senior Resource Center - Building B
101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton 

Inclusion by Zoom Conference also available

Refreshments will be served and we hope you will join us!

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Princeton Events 2021-2022

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All talks will be held Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM and accessed via Zoom. Talks are open to all members, and new members are welcome.

September 19, 2021 - Bill Peschel
Bill Peschel, award-winning journalist, and mystery expert will discuss Agatha Christie's early years and how they influenced her writing.

October 10, 2021 – The Mitford Sisters
The Mitford siblings were startlingly accomplished and frequently scandalous. Ron Schnur will tell us who these people were and what their lives might tell us about celebrity, Englishness, and class.

November 14, 2021 – Ian Flemming
Noted biographer, Andrew Lycett, will discuss the man who gave us James Bond and lived a life nearly as dashing as his creation.

December 12, 2021 – Nine Lessons and Carols
Enjoy the holiday season by learning about one of its most cherished traditions with distinguished musicians and early music historians, Sheldon Eldridge and John Burkhalter.

January 16, 2022 – The Psychology of Alfred Hitchcock
Christopher Ludovici will explore the connection between plot and the protagonist's state of mind, whether ambivalence, resentment, voyeurism, or paranoia, in Hitchcock's films.

February 20, 2022 – Annual Shakespeare Competition
High school thespians from New Jersey will compete for a chance to go to the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City and the opportunity to study Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London.

March 13, 2022 – The Sport of Cricket
Break out the Pimms and imagine the thwack of leather on willow as local cricket enthusiast Vineet Anand talks about the ever-popular sport of cricket.

April 24, 2022 – The Scottish Enlightenment
Peter Smith will take us to 18th-Century Edinburgh where ideas that arose in science and philosophy revolutionized the world and still influence us.

May, day TBA -- The Humor of Jonathan Swift
Did you know that the author of Gulliver's Travelers had a day job as an Anglican priest—and that he loved a good practical joke? David Venturo, professor of English at the College of New Jersey, will explore the humorous side of the author of Gulliver's Travels.

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