From the great passions of Henry VIII to today’s rebellious younger Windsors, the royal dynasty is awash in political intrigue, sexual escapades and sibling rivalry. Henry VIII changed the religion of a country for his great love, Edward VIII abdicated for his, and Charles and Diana’s tumultuous marriage played out in the press, as does the rivalry between their sons William and Harry. This lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint and should be considered PG-Rated.

Queen Elizabeth was much beloved by the Brits as well as by the rest of the world. King Charles III does not enjoy his mother’s popularity. Dr. Marcus discusses the future of the royals under Charles. Will he be able to overcome anti-monarchy sentiments? Will the younger generation of royals overcome the public’s disgust with Harry, Meghan and Andrew? Are the royals even relevant today? Dr. Marcus looks at Royals at a crossroads in this lecture which includes a colorful PowerPoint.

TIME MAGAZINE has been an American staple since its very first issue in 1923. Join lecturer Dr. Margery Marcus as she examines 100 years of TIME covers, including the Person of the Year issues which have both delighted and outraged readers. Her colorful PowerPoint presentation concludes with this century’s most controversial covers as well as a peek at the very latest cover.

Books have the power to delight and educate, but they can also fire up community outrage, and political and societal anger. The tradition of book banning…and even burning… in America continues up until today, threatening our right to choose what we read. The Bible, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Beloved have all made banned books lists, as have childhood favorites like The Wizard of Oz. Today school libraries are under attack in many states for collections deemed “inappropriate.” This PowerPoint lecture also includes a brief discussion of Critical Race Theory as it affects school districts throughout the country.

While books these days may stir up controversy, they also have the power to bring people together, and remind us of our humanity. Dr. Margery Marcus discusses books that connect us, heal and unite us. She reminds us of beloved childhood favorites like Charlotte’s Web and Little Women, as well as classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Her lecture includes newer novels like The Help, Lessons in Chemistry, and The Reading List. She addresses the role that book clubs play in our lives, and the importance of libraries in the community. Her lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint plus a reading list.

Books written in the 1950s reflect a time that was simultaneously conservative and revolutionary. Dr. Margery Marcus examines the literary hits of the Fifties including The Catcher in the Rye, A Stone for Danny Fisher, Peyton Place, Marjorie Morningstar and Exodus, all novels which were anthems of the age. Dr. Marcus looks at the appeal and staying power (or lack of) of these novels which many readers remember fondly for their power to move us. This lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint.

Dr. Margery Marcus discusses fictional Jewish detectives from the groundbreaking Rabbi Small novels (remember Friday the Rabbi Slept Late?) to the contemporary detective team of Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker. She looks at Jewish detectives in every category from the hard-boiled tough guy to the suburban mom who stumbles into crime solving. Dr. Marcus’ lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint plus a reading list.

Great detective fiction has been beloved by readers since its inception in the 1840’s. From the very first mysteries to the most current, mystery writers have entertained and appealed to generations of amateur sleuths who love matching wits vicariously with both criminals and detectives. Dr. Marcus emphasizes the contributions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Dame Agatha Christie to the genre and includes a discussion of contemporary writers such as Louise Penny, Anthony Horowitz and Norwegian writing rock star Jo Nesbo. This lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint and a reading list.

Join Dr. Margery Marcus for a look at the powerful tabloids which both infuriate and entertain millions of readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, could not tame the British tabloids, and neither could his mother, with disastrous results. In this country, comedian Carol Burnett had more luck, winning a landmark lawsuit for libel against The National Enquirer in 1976, inspiring suits by other celebrities. Today, NYC is the epicenter of tabloid journalism. No one is safe from experiencing tabloid indignities. Just ask Anthony Weiner and Andrew Cuomo. This lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint and should be considered PG-Rated!

No visit to the Scottish Highlands is complete without a visit to Loch Ness for a potential sighting of the monster who may live in its depths. Does Nessie really exist or is it a figment of over-active imaginations? Observers repeatedly testify to seeing a long-necked monster in Scotland’s deepest loch. This lecture explores the legend of the Loch Ness Monster from its first reported sighting in the sixth century to today’s most recent reports. This lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint.

The antics of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece have intrigued and delighted people for thousands of years. Their stories are part of our western culture, inspiring writers throughout the ages. Today it is still fun for us to imagine the great Zeus and his brothers and sisters sitting atop Mt. Olympus meting out rewards and punishments to the mortals below. Dr. Margery Marcus discusses the origins of Greek mythology and colorfully recounts many of its famous tales, while sharing several masterpieces of art based on the great stories. This lecture includes a colorful PowerPoint presentation.

For over four centuries, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has moved audiences to tears, lamenting the deaths of young lovers whose fate was sealed with their first kiss. Victims of passion, enmity and miscalculation, Romeo and Juliet is synonymous with great love and beautiful language. Composers from Tchaikovsky through Prokofiev and later Bernstein immortalized the couple in music and ballet. Dr. Margery Marcus discusses the play’s performance and film history, looking at several of the most famous productions that featured notables like Ellen Terry, Edwin Booth, John Gielgud, Claire Danes, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Her lecture is accompanied by a colorful PowerPoint.