LT 322 - Contemporary British Fiction

This course is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to read and study contemporary British fiction around the theme of being embattled. The texts under scrutiny range from novels about the World Wars, post-2nd WW challenges and speculative (ir)realities to fictions about the societal demands that have resulted from the changing nature of Britain - dystopian, political, feminist and postcolonial writings. The authors - ranging from British novelist, Pat Barker to Japanese/British Nobel Prize-winning Kazuo Ishiguro and ground-breaking fantasy author, Susanna Clarke - all demonstrate that the novel, as a literary form, is successful in engaging with complex realities. Through reading, critical analysis, presenting reviews and essays on the different texts, the students will gain more insight into the strengths of the modern British novel and discover some of the best stylists writing today.

Note: This course is offered during the regular semester and in the summer. For summer sections, the course schedule is condensed, but the content, learning outcomes, and contact hours are the same. You can find the Contemporary British Fiction summer syllabus here,