Attending one of Claire’s programs, whether in-person or virtually, is like enjoying a cup of good English tea with a well-informed and fascinating friend. Her presentations are unique, professionally delivered, with just enough curiosities that leave audience members feeling like “insiders.” Offering intelligent and delightful presentations…and delightful to work with, Claire delivers exceptional experiences.
Donna Blomquist
Programming Librarian
LaSalle Public Library
LaSalle, Illinois
We thoroughly enjoyed Britain’s Hidden Treasures as presented by Claire Evans. Thank you, PHPL! What an engaging presenter. I have seen several of her programs through various libraries, and she never disappoints.
Prospect Heights (IL) Public Library patron
I give the following virtual or hybrid library presentations for adults. For a partial listing of who I’ve worked with, click here. I’ve given 400 and counting well-reviewed talks to libraries and civic groups all over the United States and abroad. If you’d like to see me, look for the events page of the library listed for how to register for Zoom programs. If you are a programming librarian looking for fresh library program ideas, take a look at my offerings and get in touch. Check back, as I continue to develop new talks frequently!
THE NEWEST TALKS!
Killing the Buzz: The Lost Story of Yaupon Tea, North America’s Native Caffeinated Plant
Fact and Fiction: The Art of British Spycraft
Jane Austen’s Sanditon: From Unfinished Swan Song to British Costume Drama
Classic talks that never go out of style:
Steeped in Secrecy: The Boston Tea Party, 250 Years Later
High Tea and the Low Down: A Guide to Misunderstanding British English
James Herriot: The Simple Life of the World’s Most Famous Veterinarian
In Cod We Trust: A Deep Dive into the History of Fish and Chips
Britain’s Hidden Treasures
The Great British Baking Tour (also available in Holiday Edition)
From Uptown Girls to Downton Abbey: How American Gilded Age Heiresses Invaded the British Aristocracy
Pottering Around the UK: Real Life Locations from the World of Harry Potter
The Politics of Tea: The East India Company and British Tea Culture
From Merlin to Doc Martin: The Best of England’s Dramatic Cornwall
Mary Anning: History’s Greatest Fossilist
Happy Christmas! Celebrating the Holiday, UK Style
All Castles, No Hassles: Planning a Stress-Free UK Holiday
Killing the Buzz: The Lost Story of Yaupon Tea, North America’s Native Caffeinated Plant (Jan. 2026)
M. Catesby, Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, ed. 2, vol. 2: t. 57 (1754)
Few people realize there is a delicious, viable competitor to imported coffee and tea, much revered by Native Americans, that grows as an uncelebrated ornamental shrub in the southeastern United States. The story of yaupon holly, besmirched by the embittered British with the inaccurate botanical name ilex vomitoria, is an ethnobotanical voyage from its documented use in native ceremonies, notably at Cahokia Mounds in Illinois more than 1000 years ago, to relative obscurity in an era when the import duties on tea and coffee have never been higher. Consider the merits of yaupon tea for yourself as we explore the reasons behind its obscurity.
Jane Austen’s Sanditon: From Unfinished Swan Song to British Costume Drama (Sept. 2025)
Commemorating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday on Dec. 16, 2025, join author, former UK resident, and Anglophile Claire Evans for a look at Austen’s final, unfinished manuscript and its path from family heirloom to a fully imagined costume drama, airing on American PBS. Learn about the real-life people and locations that informed Austen’s last work before her untimely death at age 41, as well as how the seeds of her ideas came to life on the small screen.
- Dec. 1: Dexter District Library (MI), 7 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 2: Alpena County George Fletcher Public Library (MI), 5 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 4: Hamden Public Library, Stratford Public Library, Cheshire Public Library (CT), 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 9: Cora J. Belden Public Library (CT), 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 9: Elmhurst Public Library (IL), 7 p.m. Central
- Dec. 10: Chelmsford Public Library (MA), 1 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 11: Palatine Public Library (IL), 6 p.m. Central
- Dec. 15: Rodgers Memorial Library, Amherst Library, Maxfield Library, North Hampton Public Library, Sandown Library, Dunbar Free Library, Merrimack Library, Blaisdell Memorial Library (NH), 7 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 16: Dunlap Public Library (IL), 11:30 a.m. Central
- Dec. 16: Poughkeepsie Public Library District (NY), 7 p.m. Eastern
- Jan. 15: Lake Forest Library (IL), 6:30 p.m. Central
Fact & Fiction: The Art of British Spycraft (Nov. 2025)
Author, former UK resident, and Anglophile Claire Evans recounts her visit to Bletchley Park, the once top-secret hub of codebreakers vital to Allied intelligence during WWII. Delve into modern British spy novels and the real-life characters and circumstances that inspired countless plot twists.
- Nov. 24: Wilton Library (CT), 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Dec. 17: Peters Township Public Library (PA), 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Jan. 8: Chelsea District Library (MI), 7 p.m. Eastern
- Jan. 26: Chelmsford Public Library (MA), 1 p.m. Eastern
- Jan. 28: Syossset Public Library (NY), 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Jan. 29: Winnetka-Northfield Public Library (IL), 7 p.m. Central
- Feb. 10: Palatine Public Library, (IL) 6 p.m. Central
- Feb. 23: Northbrook Public Library (IL), 7 p.m. Central
Craft with Claire: DIY Holiday Cracker Party Favors
Make your festive table pop! Crackers look like jumbo wrapped hard candy, but are a part of every holiday dinner in the UK and Commonwealth countries (and in Sweden for St. Knut’s Day.) Diners work together to pull apart these fun party favors with little snap, revealing a joke or riddle, a prize, and a paper crown. Make these at home with Claire, and learn a bit of the history behind how these lively little parcels from Victorian times became a British cultural staple. Offered as a take-and-make craft with a supply list, instructions, and pre-recorded talk.
High Tea and the Low Down: A Guide to Misunderstanding British English
One of the most shocking things Americans find when traveling in Britain is not just the wealth of regional accents, but the completely different terminology Brits use in our “common” language. Would you know what to do with an aubergine and a courgette? Is it possible to be scrummy while drinking scrumpy in the scrum? Would you ever want to name a UK linen store “Bed Bath and Beyond?” Chuckle while learning how to avoid Britspeak disaster on your next trip from Claire Evans, author of “High Tea and the Low Down: An American’s Unfiltered Life in the UK.”
Steeped in Secrecy: The Boston Tea Party, 250 Years Later
The story of tea has always been infused with intrigue, particularly when it became a flash point for tensions between England and Colonial America. Learn about the brewing political problems tea presented in its history with Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans. Next, author, genealogist, librarian, and former UK resident Debra Dudek examines the history of the Boston Tea Party’s most famous partiers (and phonies), as well as how to trace bonafide participants through lineage societies and historical groups.
- Jan. 14: Princeton Public Library (NJ), 6:30 Eastern
- Jan. 21: Waterford Public Library, Groton Public Library, Otis Library of Norwich, Public Library of New London, Stonington Free Library (CT), 6:30 Eastern
- Feb. 4: Richmond Memorial Library (CT), 7 p.m. Eastern
James Herriot: The Simple Life of the World’s Most Famous Veterinarian
Join Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans as she recounts the life and times of Alf Wight, an unassuming country veterinarian who practiced for 50 years in one of England’s most beautiful places, the Yorkshire Dales. He rose to international fame later in life under the pen name James Herriot as he recounted the heartwarming animal stories and colorful characters of a bygone era, inspiring films and multiple television series. Of the latest TV adaptation of “All Creatures Great and Small,” shown on PBS’ Masterpiece, The Guardian said, “Switching it on was the television equivalent of taking your brain out and dunking it into a bucket of warm tea (Yorkshire, obviously).” Bask in the visual beauty of Claire’s recent Yorkshire Dales visit and learn the surprising story of the vet whose books still entertain millions.
- May 18: Fountaindale Public Library District (IL), 6:30 p.m.
In Cod We Trust: A Deep Dive into the History of Fish & Chips
Fish and chips are synonymous with the UK, traditionally a mainstay of the British working-class diet and even used as “code” for sussing out compatriot troops on the beaches of Normandy. Despite its rebranding as distinctly British fare, fried fish was originally introduced to the UK by persecuted immigrant populations. Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans looks at what lies beneath a nostalgic national dish’s contentious international history: from secret fishing grounds, Cod Wars, and overfishing to the difficulty of selling fish in today’s political landscape. Learn how to make sure your fish and chips are sustainably sourced, and how to navigate and appreciate the highlights of a modern “chippy” menu.
Britain’s Hidden Treasures
During a walk on his family’s farm during COVID lockdowns in 2020, a man noticed unusual pottery shards that ultimately led to the excavation of one of the largest, best preserved Roman villa mosaic floors every found in Europe. Jackpot historical finds aren’t uncommon in Britain thanks to its rich history: Viking hordes, Anglo Saxon treasure, and even King Richard III buried under a city parking lot. Join Anglophile and former U.K. resident Claire Evans as she tours the country’s most interesting archeological finds, and learn tips if you’d like to visit them for yourself one day.
The Great British Baking Tour (also in Holiday Edition)
Join UK travel/relocation consultant and former UK resident Claire Evans for a delightful culinary tour of the UK inspired by “The Great British Baking Show” television series, aired on PBS and Netflix. Learn about making a proper cup of tea, regional specialties, their origins, and the particular parts of the UK they hail from. She’ll translate the trickiest parts of British recipes for Americans so you can try them in your own kitchen. Pick up useful travel tips as well, just in case you’d like to create your own tour!
- Dec. 3: Holiday Edition – Eisenhower Public Library (IL), 6:30 p.m. Central
- Jan. 27: New Lenox Public Library (IL), 6:30 p.m. Central
From Uptown Girls to Downton Abbey: How American Gilded Age Heiresses Invaded the British Aristocracy
“Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough, by Carolus Duran” by Snapshooter46 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Long before the British Invasion, the cash-strapped lords, viscounts, and dukes of Great Britain shifted their focus from hunting foxes and pheasants to more lucrative targets: cash-flush Gilded Age American socialites who were willing to trade their family’s money for an ancient title and often a chilly reception in the British aristocracy. Fans of “Downton Abbey” and “The Gilded Age” on television and film will delight as Anglophile and former U.K. resident Claire Evans recounts the tales of some of the famously loaded young Americans who infused bank accounts of many stately homes, including close relatives of Winston Churchill and Princess Diana. She’ll also give travel tips if you’d like to create a Gilded Age tour for yourself.
- March 16: Poughkeepsie Public Library (NY), 7 p.m. Eastern
Pottering Around the UK: Real Life Locations from the World of Harry Potter
Travel vicariously as Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans takes you on a historic, scenic, architectural and occasionally culinary tour of Harry Potter’s magical world. From London to Scotland and points in between, admire the amazing real-life locations film scouts picked throughout the best of the British Isles, and get tips if you’d like to visit the sights yourself one day.
The Politics of Tea: The East India Company & British Tea Culture
For all its genteel connotations, the history of tea is steeped in espionage, rebellion, and the rise of an Empire. Join Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans to explore the background of the most lucrative corporate venture the world has ever known and the product it brought to the West at any cost. With a nod to the popular “Bridgerton” series, learn how tea infused British society from top to bottom and what to expect should you ever find yourself at afternoon tea.
- Jan. 20: Elmhurst Public Library (IL), 7 p.m. Central
- May 19: Barrington Public Library (IL), 6:30 p.m. Central
From Merlin to Doc Martin: The Best of England’s Dramatic Cornwall
What a shame that tourists who focus on London miss the rugged gem that awaits in Cornwall, England’s far west country bordered by the North Atlantic and the English Channel. Where so much water and land meet has given way to some of the most awesome coastline in the world, and has inspired Celtic legends such as King Arthur at Tintagel Castle. You may have already experienced a slice of Cornwall thanks to shows like PBS’s Doc Martin, and novelists like Daphne Du Maurier (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn), Winston Graham (Poldark series), and Rosamunde Pilcher (The Shell Seekers). Join Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans for a lively discussion about this underappreciated English destination.
Mary Anning: History’s Greatest Fossilist
In 1799, Mary Anning was born into a humble family in the medieval port of Lyme Regis on the south shore of England, part of its Jurassic Coast. Little did she know she would go on to develop an unmatched eye for finding the undiscovered creatures embedded in 185 million years of geological history in the notoriously unstable cliffs. Completely self-taught, academia came calling to consult and buy her finds as she continued to make discoveries that changed the scientific world, yet she was unacknowledged and uncredited by the scientific community in her own time. Join Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans for a lively talk on “the greatest fossil hunter the world has ever known” and the Jurassic Coast, the UNESCO World Heritage site she was lucky enough to call home.
- Feb. 19: Deerfield Public Library (IL), 6 p.m. Central
- March 2: Barrington Public Library (IL), 6:30 p.m. Central
- May 19: JCC Chicago – Bernard Wenger, 1 p.m. Central
Happy Christmas! Celebrating the Holiday, UK Style
Join former UK resident and lifelong Anglophile Claire Evans for a cultural tour of Christmas in Great Britain. She’ll be your culinary travel guide to what special food and drink appears at the holiday table, with authentic recipes to try at home. And it wouldn’t be a British Christmas without pantos, crackers, and the Christmas number one, so she’ll also talk about the traditions and cultural quirks essential to a proper British holiday. You’ll be fully prepared to eat, drink, and be merry, UK-style!
- Dec. 18: Indian Prairie Public Library (IL), 7 p.m. Central
All Castles, No Hassles: Planning a Stress-Free UK Holiday
Join Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans for a slice of Victoria sponge, a proper cup of tea, and a fun discussion about everything you’ve always wanted to know about planning travel to the UK. With exchange rates more favorable to Americans than they have been in years, it’s a great time to venture across the pond. She’ll give tips on transportation, destinations, everyday living, food, accommodation, and culture, with a bit of humour for good measure.