All upcoming Biography & Autobiography programs

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther famously (and perhaps apocryphally) nailed his 95 Theses condemning papal indulgences to the Wittenberg Castle Church door, giving the Protestant Reformation its official starting date. But the true story of reform is more complicated, and Luther the man more controversial. Historian Amy Leonard of Georgetown University reviews the history and historiography of the Protestant Reformation and Luther’s place within it.

Andrea Palladio’s villas, palaces, and churches encompass the mathematical harmony, classical inspiration, and humanist ideals that defined the Renaissance in Italy. His architectural language crossed eras and oceans, inspiring everything from English country estates to American civic buildings and even the White House. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo explores Palladio’s life, works, and philosophy, revealing how a former stonemason from Vicenza shaped the foundations of Western architecture. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) harnessed the philosophical heritage of antiquity to express a new Christian philosophy, one that would have a huge impact—and shape how it would be seen for two millennia. Augustine scholar Scott MacDonald of Cornell University explores some of the concepts of faith, good and evil, human nature, and the search for the divine as reflected in Augustine’s major works.

Frank Sinatra's 100 musical performances in motion pictures reveal a vocalist who almost from the start recognized how the camera could enhance his artistry as much as the microphone. Media historian Brian Rose surveys Sinatra’s extraordinary Hollywood musical career, which began with uncredited appearances with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and continued through his famous days with the Rat Pack.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II was exceptional for many reasons, including her remarkable longevity, her enduring marriage to Prince Philip, and her success in concealing her opinions on virtually any contentious subject. For many people, she embodied dutifulness, service, and continuity in a rapidly changing world. Historian Sir David Cannadine puts the life of Elizabeth II in perspective, set against a broad domestic and international context.

Expectations have always been high when it comes to the British line of succession, says historian Siobhan Clarke, and the birth of a royal baby could shape an empire. She explores the historical significance of these important infants from the 15th century to today, examining how the fertility, pregnancies, and childbirths of queens have shaped politics—and why the nation’s history has often hung on a tiny heartbeat.

Thomas Smallwood, born into slavery in 1801 near Washington, D.C., bought his freedom, began organizing mass escapes from slavery by the wagonload, and wrote about the escapes in newspaper dispatches. Smallwood never got the credit he deserved, says journalist Scott Shane. Shane recounts the exploits of Smallwood and his white colleague, Charles Torrey, setting them against the backdrop of the slave trade in the United States.

There wasn’t anything Judy Garland couldn’t do, from breaking an audience’s heart with a song to effortlessly dancing up a storm to delivering enthralling comic and dramatic performances. Media historian Brian Rose examines her remarkable Hollywood career, which began in her young teens at MGM and continued with such timeless classics as The Wizard of Oz, Easter Parade, and her stirring comeback in 1954’s A Star is Born.

Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, two key figures of postwar British art, shared a complex personal and artistic bond. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine explores this relationship by examining their distinct approaches to painting—Bacon’s expressive style contrasted with Freud’s painstaking realism. Despite their differences, both artists were fascinated by the human figure, and their mutual admiration sparked a rivalry that shaped their artistic trajectories. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Abraham Lincoln is typically ranked as the nation’s foremost president. He possessed extraordinary leadership skills that he used to win the Civil War and preserve the nation. While most leaders may display a unique style, there is even more to learn from Lincoln. Marking the 217th anniversary of his birth, Lincoln scholar and author Louis P. Masur proposes that studying this remarkable president can offer insights into becoming better leaders.