The Novel of Empire

Catalog description

This course will examine novels and related texts from the 1880's through the late twentieth century from the era of high imperialism to the postcolonial period to imperial nostalgia. Through close reading and broad comparison, we'll trace the relationships between the history of the British Empire (and others) and English-language fiction in particular, how histories and experiences of the first were written into the second. What themes and preoccupations unite works concerned with imperialism and colonialism written across this period, and in literary fields ranging from adventure stories to high modernism. We will also look at justifications and critiques of the Empire and colonialism, and the innovations of postcolonial and global anglophone writers. The reading list may include such figures as Joseph Conrad, H. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling, Olive Schreiner, E.M. Forster, Raja Rao, C.L.R. James, Graham Greene, Jean Rhys; possibly a film; and additional critical and historical readings. Requirements will include regular short writing assignments, an in-class presentation, midterm essay, and final research paper.