Literature: Reading and Enjoying Great Writers

We warmly welcome curious readers who want to dip into the works of the great, both modern and classic. We will look at the context of writers, and why they are thought of as ‘great’. The sessions will be led by a tutor who has taught Literature for many years. Her enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. We will explore the work of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, the Brontes, H.G. Wells, Muriel Spark, William Golding, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Chinua Achebe amongst others. We will also explore fun facts such as: what did Achebe say about Conrad and why did it rock the world of Literature? Which writers were reviewed favourably and then unfavourably for the same novels by the same reviewers? Which writer was famed for not being good at creating female characters and why?

We aim to:

• Introduce writers to examples of superb writing.

• Explore what makes some writing so good.

• Enable readers to see what they do and don’t like.

By the end of the sessions, we will feel more confident about the classics, both ancient and new. Students will feel empowered to attend other courses and may need to buy a new bookshelf to house all the books they are looking forward to reading.