The coming of the Second World War loomed large in the imagination of many writers in 1939. We explore how this crisis was represented in a selection of novels published that year by Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley and Jean Rhys. Each novel is set in a different part of the world - Berlin, California and Paris - and refracts the personal and political anxieties of the period.
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In this online course we will read three novels by British authors that anticipate the Second World War. In Goodbye to Berlin, Christopher Isherwood depicts the insidious rise of Nazism in Weimar Germany, and the collapse of its queer culture and social freedoms.
After Many a Summer reflects Aldous Huxley’s disillusionment with politics as a means of achieving peace. It’s set in the Californian castle of an ageing magnate named Jo Stoyte, who embarks on a bizarre quest for immortality.
In Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys, the protagonist Sasha Jensen has fled to Paris but is trapped by her traumatic past. Her personal tragedy can be read as a reflection of the coming political crisis.
What will we cover?
We will read three novels during this six-week course. These books contain a variety of themes, including the rise of fascism, antisemitism, pacifism, mysticism, Eros and Thanatos, alcoholism and grief.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Appreciate the political context of the interwar period.
Discuss the personal and political turmoil that informs these novels from 1939.
Situate these novels in relation to their author’s biography.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is open to anyone interested in literature; you do not need to have read any of these authors before.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This course combines tutor presentations with class discussion, small-group work that focuses on specific issues and close reading.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need to buy or borrow the following novels:
Christopher Isherwood, Goodbye to Berlin
Aldous Huxley, After Many a Summer (the American title is After Many a Summer Dies the Swan)
Jean Rhys, Good Morning, Midnight
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other fiction courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Dr Jake Poller has taught in the English department at Queen Mary University of London for over ten years. He has published many peer-reviewed articles and chapters in edited collections - most recently a chapter on Aldous Huxley for The British Novel of Ideas (CUP, 2024). He is the author of three books, including critical biographies of Aldous Huxley and Christopher Isherwood for Reaktion Books.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/1939-in-the-shadow-of-crisis30376181939: In the Shadow of Crisishttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/demystifying-poetry-hlt354-1080.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction/Courses/Online courses228511771187118817311228511771187<p>The coming of the Second World War loomed large in the imagination of many writers in 1939. We explore how this crisis was represented in a selection of novels published that year by Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley and Jean Rhys. Each novel is set in a different part of the world - Berlin, California and Paris - and refracts the personal and political anxieties of the period. </p><p></p><p></p>0030376061939: In the Shadow of Crisis149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/demystifying-poetry-hlt354-1080.jpgInStockEveningMonOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-28T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT3441491491939: In the Shadow of Crisis14997149Jake Poller1939-in-the-shadow-of-crisis/hlt344-2627<p>The coming of the Second World War loomed large in the imagination of many writers in 1939. We explore how this crisis was represented in a selection of novels published that year by Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley and Jean Rhys. Each novel is set in a different part of the world - Berlin, California and Paris - and refracts the personal and political anxieties of the period. </p><p></p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-28 00:00:00<p>In this online course we will read three novels by British authors that anticipate the Second World War. In <em>Goodbye to Berlin</em>, Christopher Isherwood depicts the insidious rise of Nazism in Weimar Germany, and the collapse of its queer culture and social freedoms. </p><p><em>After Many a Summer</em> reflects Aldous Huxley’s disillusionment with politics as a means of achieving peace. It’s set in the Californian castle of an ageing magnate named Jo Stoyte, who embarks on a bizarre quest for immortality.</p><p>In <em>Good Morning, Midnight</em> by Jean Rhys, the protagonist Sasha Jensen has fled to Paris but is trapped by her traumatic past. Her personal tragedy can be read as a reflection of the coming political crisis.</p><p>The coming of the Second World War loomed large in the imagination of many writers in 1939. We explore how this crisis was represented in a selection of novels published that year by Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley and Jean Rhys. Each novel is set in a different part of the world - Berlin, California and Paris - and refracts the personal and political anxieties of the period. </p><p></p><p></p><p>We will read three novels during this six-week course. These books contain a variety of themes, including the rise of fascism, antisemitism, pacifism, mysticism, Eros and Thanatos, alcoholism and grief.</p><p></p><ul><li>Appreciate the political context of the interwar period.</li><li>Discuss the personal and political turmoil that informs these novels from 1939.</li><li>Situate these novels in relation to their author’s biography.</li></ul><p>This course is open to anyone interested in literature; you do not need to have read any of these authors before.</p><p>This course combines tutor presentations with class discussion, small-group work that focuses on specific issues and close reading.</p><p>You will need to buy or borrow the following novels:</p><ul><li>Christopher Isherwood, <em>Goodbye to Berlin</em></li><li>Aldous Huxley, <em>After Many a Summer </em>(the American title is <em>After Many a Summer Dies the Swan</em>)</li><li>Jean Rhys, <em>Good Morning, Midnight</em></li></ul><p>Look for other fiction courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual14914997HLT344NONEMon28/09/26 - 02/11/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineJake PollerBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-28T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities1491491939: In the Shadow of Crisis1939-in-the-shadow-of-crisis/hlt344-2627<p>The coming of the Second World War loomed large in the imagination of many writers in 1939. We explore how this crisis was represented in a selection of novels published that year by Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley and Jean Rhys. Each novel is set in a different part of the world - Berlin, California and Paris - and refracts the personal and political anxieties of the period. </p><p></p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-28 00:00:00<p>In this online course we will read three novels by British authors that anticipate the Second World War. In <em>Goodbye to Berlin</em>, Christopher Isherwood depicts the insidious rise of Nazism in Weimar Germany, and the collapse of its queer culture and social freedoms. </p><p><em>After Many a Summer</em> reflects Aldous Huxley’s disillusionment with politics as a means of achieving peace. It’s set in the Californian castle of an ageing magnate named Jo Stoyte, who embarks on a bizarre quest for immortality.</p><p>In <em>Good Morning, Midnight</em> by Jean Rhys, the protagonist Sasha Jensen has fled to Paris but is trapped by her traumatic past. Her personal tragedy can be read as a reflection of the coming political crisis.</p><p>The coming of the Second World War loomed large in the imagination of many writers in 1939. We explore how this crisis was represented in a selection of novels published that year by Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley and Jean Rhys. Each novel is set in a different part of the world - Berlin, California and Paris - and refracts the personal and political anxieties of the period. </p><p></p><p></p><p>We will read three novels during this six-week course. These books contain a variety of themes, including the rise of fascism, antisemitism, pacifism, mysticism, Eros and Thanatos, alcoholism and grief.</p><p></p><ul><li>Appreciate the political context of the interwar period.</li><li>Discuss the personal and political turmoil that informs these novels from 1939.</li><li>Situate these novels in relation to their author’s biography.</li></ul><p>This course is open to anyone interested in literature; you do not need to have read any of these authors before.</p><p>This course combines tutor presentations with class discussion, small-group work that focuses on specific issues and close reading.</p><p>You will need to buy or borrow the following novels:</p><ul><li>Christopher Isherwood, <em>Goodbye to Berlin</em></li><li>Aldous Huxley, <em>After Many a Summer </em>(the American title is <em>After Many a Summer Dies the Swan</em>)</li><li>Jean Rhys, <em>Good Morning, Midnight</em></li></ul><p>Look for other fiction courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionconfigurable
11881187Fictionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/literature/fiction1/2/285/1177/1187/11881/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction
