It seems that wherever I go, there is something that can be related to politics and culture in twentieth-century Europe. Here are a few pictures I've taken with a few thoughts on their importance.
A couple of weeks ago, we went to Oxford. Oxford offers all kinds of topics for further exploration: the British education system, the (re)production of political and social elite, and the setting for scenes from Harry Potter. It also produced two very successful writers: JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. The contemporaries met weekly for lunch at the Eagle and Child Pub and we happened to have lunch at the table under their favorite meeting spot. 
These two men have had remarkable success with their books, which have also been turned into movies: 2 different cultural formats. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, which have sold over 100 million copies and have been translated into 41 languages. Tolkien is the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and has been called the father of modern fantasy literature. Both were professors at Oxford and both had fought in the Great War. Their writings continue to influence readers around the world.
These two men have had remarkable success with their books, which have also been turned into movies: 2 different cultural formats. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, which have sold over 100 million copies and have been translated into 41 languages. Tolkien is the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and has been called the father of modern fantasy literature. Both were professors at Oxford and both had fought in the Great War. Their writings continue to influence readers around the world. Yesterday was a trip to Dover and Canterbury. While both towns have long and important histories, I was drawn to their more recent histories, especially their experiences during World War II (surprise, surprise). Unfortunately we didn't get to visit the secret underground tunnels dug into the famous white cliffs that were used during the war, but I did manage to take a couple of pictures from a statue that overlooks the harbor. The artwork depicted the rescue from Dunkirk and the Normandy D-Day invasions. With France just 17 miles away, Dover was an important site for planning operations and protecting Britain during the war.
From the very beginning of our visit into Canterbury Cathedral, I was reminded of the war again. You expect to learn about Thomas Beckett and the long history of the cathedral. At the entrance to the nave is an engraving on the floor dedicated to the people who helped save the cathedral during the German bombing campaign. The war certainly threatened the survival of the cathedral, which would have been an incredible loss of Britain's history and culture.
