Simon Schama

What lessons does the past hold for our future? Join Britain’s pre-eminent public historian to explore his thoughts on the pandemic, the Biden presidency, the future of populism and more.

The events of 2020 have upturned the order of the world, and the medical, economic and political crises we face will not fade quietly as the new year begins.

Though so much of the present moment feels strange and unprecedented, there is wisdom in heeding to George Santayana’s famous proverb that those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.

To help ensure that we do not fall foul of the prophecy, Simon Schama joins 5x15 to share his insights into the past and near future.

A natural storyteller with a deep grasp of human psychology and the broader forces that shape our world, Schama will reflect upon the lessons history holds for the coming year in conversation with journalist and broadcaster Matthew Stadlen, exploring Trump’s resistance to the election result and its consequences for American democracy, the tragedy of the pandemic, the endgame of Brexit and more.