All families may have their disputes--but for family members descended from Queen Victoria, those family spats helped lead to the first world-wide war in the history of humanity.

Dr. Nancy Parrish will offer a lively slide presentation tracing the role of royals in the unfurling of what they called The Great War, British aristocrats’ naïve welcome of it, and some of its consequences reaching even into the present century. A final point of the talk will be the question of if—or should—the British monarchy continue?

$15 per person. 20% discount for museum members.

About Dr. Nancy Parrish

Dr. Nancy Parrish’s teaching has ranged from public schools and community colleges to the University of Lynchburg, Virginia State University, and the College of William and Mary. She has written extensively on the connections between history and literature. Lee Smith, Annie Dillard and the Hollins Group explores the rise of women writers in the Southern literary scene. Her book The Downton Era: Great Houses, Churchills, and Mitfords looks at the arc of British aristocratic power in the twentieth century. A few paperback copies of The Downton Era book will be available for sale after the lecture for $10 each (cash or check only).