Answering the Call

It was no surprise that Centrepoint had a large turnout for the trip to the exhibition “London Calling: Swiss-British Cultural Exchange” on April 23. As part of an international organisation in Switzerland with English as the common language, Centrepoint’s members are already engaged in ongoing exchange.

The exhibition at the Basel University Library focuses on connections between Switzerland and England in the 17th and 18th centuries, when English theologians came to share ideas with Reformed clergy, and Swiss scholars, businessmen and members of the upper class answered the call of the great city of London.

At the heart of the exhibition is a fascinating collection of documents — letters, books, religious texts, diaries, maps, travelogues and song books. Many of the Swiss travellers brought back important literary and religious works that had a profound influence in Europe. Our members especially enjoyed the account of Helen Maria Williams, an English author who visited Switzerland in 1794, and the travelogue of Bartholomée Marie de Crousaz, a Swiss girl who travelled with her family throughout England and Switzerland.

The exhibition was open to the public till 20 May.

Text: Michelle Lauterbach

Photo’s: Markus-Andreas Koch, Project SwissBritNet