In this course, we will read and discuss the range of Welty’s fiction, from her modernist family romances to her myth- infused photorealism. Readings of her short fiction will be supplemented by Welty’s own photographs and her commentary on the craft of writing.
Boundary-breaking, beloved, revered, misunderstood, Emily Dickinson remains one of the foremost geniuses of American poetry. In this course, we will explore a range of Emily Dickinson’s poetry.
This course will introduce readers to the major themes of The Decameron, set against the historical backdrop of the 1348 plague. Set in Florence, Italy during the Black Death, Giovanni Boccaccio’s one hundred novelle have received recent, widespread attention as readers the world over struggle to navigate the perils of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The arms of creative nonfiction open wide to include many possibilities based on the truth of our lives and times and our particular angle of vision. Work read in class receives careful attention from class members who give helpful feedback.
Rediscover the Greek myths and legendary heroes through the witty analysis of scholar, comedian and author Stephen Fry. His books retell the stories of the gods and heroes in all their glories and foibles with humor and sympathy.
Read: Mythos, Stephen Fry; Heroes, Stephen Fry
Writing poetry enhances our ability to see the miraculous in the ordinary and to capture the wonder that surrounds us, often unnoticed. Poetry also serves as a container for sorrow or joy. Poems shared in class receive constructive feedback.
Bring 12 copies of an original poem to the first class.
The 1920s was a unique period in American and world history. In this country, it was characterized by the end of the Progressive period with its significant social and political advances and a “return to normalcy” with Harding, Coolidge and Hoover in the White House.
Recently several popular books are serving up masterful plots set in libraries. These settings are found not only in historical fiction, fantasy, romances, sci-fi, and mysteries, but in nonfiction accounts, too. This course will take the reader into the stacks as we consider three best sellers.
When Pulitzer-Prize winning author Donna Tartt published her first novel, The Secret History, in 1992, it was the subject of both hype and acclaim, breaking records both in the advance Tartt received for it as well as the number of copies in its first run.