Contemporary British Voices

Catalog description

The literary genre of the memoir allows the reader the opportunity to understand the author's life experience, be it one event or a connected series of events, a particular period of time, or an aspect of their identity, as told from their individual perspective. This course focuses on contemporary British memoirs that will expand our knowledge of British current society and history. In examining each personal account, we will learn the historical context and the current conditions pertinent to each so that we can better comprehend how the narrative fits into the British past and present. We will also analyze the memoir as a genre, investigating both its strengths and limitations as a historical and cultural artifact. This course is only offered as part of the University Honors Program's United Kingdom: British History and Shakespeare in Oxford study abroad trip.