Dr. Simon Schama

Biography

Sir Simon Schama is a University Professor at Columbia University, having joined the institution in 1993. He is well-regarded for his expertise in Art History and History. Schama was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he completed his MPhil in 1969 and a BA in 1994. He has taught at prestigious institutions including Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard. His research interests encompass various themes, including the British Empire, English and French art, and Victorian culture. Schama has published numerous acclaimed works, including 'A History of Britain' (2000-2002), 'Patriots and Liberators' (1977), 'Dead Certainties: Unwarranted Speculations' (1991), and 'Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution' (2006), which earned him the National Book Critics Circle Award for non-fiction in 2007. He has also produced an award-winning, 15-part television series called 'A History of Britain' that aired on BBC and PBS, and a new series titled 'The Power of Art.' In addition, he served as Vice President of the PEN American Center from 1994 to 1996 and was an art critic for The New Yorker magazine from 1995 to 1998. In recognition of his contributions to history, he was awarded a knighthood by Buckingham Palace in 2019.

Research Interests