Department of English

This is an introductory survey of British fiction since 1900, covering some of the most important novels of the past hundred years, from Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim (1900) to Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005).  There is no single theme underlying our readings.  Rather, we will be exploring a number of interrelated questions concerning the genre of the novel and the politics of literary form; the competing ideas of modernism; and the shifting dynamics of Britishness during a century of supposed Americanization and Globalization.

Written work will consist of a 4-5 page essay, a 10-page essay, and several short midterm exams.  There will be no final exam.   Both English majors and non-majors are welcome to enroll in this class.  No previous background in British literature is assumed or expected. A printable version of the syllabus can be found HERE.