Explore and discuss novels, poems and short stories by seminal British authors including E. M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Bowen, discovering how they responded to and illuminated the social, political and psychological upheavals of this period of British history.
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The first half of the twentieth century was a period of unprecedented social, political and psychological change in Britain. Writers responded by tackling the major concerns of the time, such as fading empire, national identity, two world wars and political movements like fascism and socialism, with a huge variety of innovative literary responses that also sought to convey the impact of such change on the individual psyche. On this course we will study some of the most important texts of the period, beginning with E. M. Forster’s subtle dissection of the late Edwardian era, Howards End, and concluding with Elizabeth Bowen’s unsettling stories of London during the Blitz. In between we will closely read Virginia Woolf’s masterly study of post-WWI London society, Mrs Dalloway, and get a taste of the exciting new poets who emerged in the 1930s, including Stevie Smith and W. H. Auden. We will also explore how for former seafarer Joseph Conrad, travel offered situations that reveal the hidden depths of human nature, for example in his haunting and enigmatic story ‘The Secret Sharer’.
What will we cover?
Week 1 - Introduction
Week 2 - Manners, Morals and Liberal Guilt: E. M. Forster, Howards End (1910)
Week 3 - Who Shall Inherit England? E. M. Forster, Howards End (1910)
Week 4 - Travel and the Unconscious: Joseph Conrad, ‘The Secret Sharer’ (1910)
Week 5 - Being and Time in Postwar London: Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway (1925)
Week 6 - How to Critique the Social System: Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway (1925)
Week 7 - Industrial Technology, Political Upheaval and the Threat of War: 1930s Poets
Week 8 - Psychologies of the Blitz: Elizabeth Bowen, selected short stories
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Discuss significant British novels, stories and poems from the first half of the twentieth century
Understand the ways in which these texts both reflect and embody social, political and psychological change
Recognise the techniques and styles of some of the most important writers of the period
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
All you need is enthusiasm for reading and discussing literature.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The class will be highly participatory and interactive, with a combination of tutor presentation, small group work, close reading exercises and class discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring copies of Howards End by E M. Forster, Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and ‘The Secret Sharer’ by Joseph Conrad. Any edition is fine, but look for ones with a good introduction as they are better value for money. The Conrad story is available on its own or as part of various collections.
The poetry selection will be provided, but if you would like to read more, the tutor recommends Poetry of the Thirties, edited by Robin Skelton, published by Penguin Modern Classics.
Copies of the short stories by Elizabeth Bowen will be provided, but if you would like to read more, the tutor recommends the Collected Stories with an introduction by Angus Wilson, published by Vintage.
Please contact the tutor for advice if necessary.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Lewis Ward is a London-based teacher and editor. His PhD (University of Exeter) focused on history, memory and trauma in contemporary narratives. He has taught at four UK universities, covering most literary periods and genres along the way.
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/british-literature-1900-1950165521British Literature 1900-1950https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/fiction-1024.jpg239239GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction22851177118711881228511771187<p>Explore and discuss novels, poems and short stories by seminal British authors including E. M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Bowen, discovering how they responded to and illuminated the social, political and psychological upheavals of this period of British history. </p> The first half of the twentieth century was a period of unprecedented social, political and psychological change in Britain. Writers responded by tackling the major concerns of the time, such as fading empire, national identity, two world wars and political movements like fascism and socialism, with a huge variety of innovative literary responses that also sought to convey the impact of such change on the individual psyche. On this course we will study some of the most important texts of the period, beginning with E. M. Forster’s subtle dissection of the late Edwardian era, Howards End, and concluding with Elizabeth Bowen’s unsettling stories of London during the Blitz. In between we will closely read Virginia Woolf’s masterly study of post-WWI London society, Mrs Dalloway, and get a taste of the exciting new poets who emerged in the 1930s, including Stevie Smith and W. H. Auden.253037603British Literature 1900-1950239239https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/fiction-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT249239239British Literature 1900-1950191155239Lewis Wardbritish-literature-1900-1950/hlt249-2627<p>Explore and discuss novels, poems and short stories by seminal British authors including E. M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Bowen, discovering how they responded to and illuminated the social, political and psychological upheavals of this period of British history. </p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>The first half of the twentieth century was a period of unprecedented social, political and psychological change in Britain. Writers responded by tackling the major concerns of the time, such as fading empire, national identity, two world wars and political movements like fascism and socialism, with a huge variety of innovative literary responses that also sought to convey the impact of such change on the individual psyche. On this course we will study some of the most important texts of the period, beginning with E. M. Forster’s subtle dissection of the late Edwardian era, <em>Howards End</em>, and concluding with Elizabeth Bowen’s unsettling stories of London during the Blitz. In between we will closely read Virginia Woolf’s masterly study of post-WWI London society, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em>, and get a taste of the exciting new poets who emerged in the 1930s, including Stevie Smith and W. H. Auden. We will also explore how for former seafarer Joseph Conrad, travel offered situations that reveal the hidden depths of human nature, for example in his haunting and enigmatic story ‘The Secret Sharer’.</p><p>Explore and discuss novels, poems and short stories by seminal British authors including E. M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Bowen, discovering how they responded to and illuminated the social, political and psychological upheavals of this period of British history. </p><ul><li>Week 1 - Introduction</li><li>Week 2 - Manners, Morals and Liberal Guilt: E. M. Forster, <em>Howards End</em> (1910)</li><li>Week 3 - Who Shall Inherit England? E. M. Forster, <em>Howards End</em> (1910)</li><li>Week 4 - Travel and the Unconscious: Joseph Conrad, ‘The Secret Sharer’ (1910)</li><li>Week 5 - Being and Time in Postwar London: Virginia Woolf, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em> (1925)</li><li>Week 6 - How to Critique the Social System: Virginia Woolf, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em> (1925)</li><li>Week 7 - Industrial Technology, Political Upheaval and the Threat of War: 1930s Poets</li><li>Week 8 - Psychologies of the Blitz: Elizabeth Bowen, selected short stories</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss significant British novels, stories and poems from the first half of the twentieth century</li><li>Understand the ways in which these texts both reflect and embody social, political and psychological change</li><li>Recognise the techniques and styles of some of the most important writers of the period</li></ul>All you need is enthusiasm for reading and discussing literature.<p>The class will be highly participatory and interactive, with a combination of tutor presentation, small group work, close reading exercises and class discussion.</p><p>Please bring copies of <em>Howards End </em>by E M. Forster, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em> by Virginia Woolf and ‘The Secret Sharer’ by Joseph Conrad. Any edition is fine, but look for ones with a good introduction as they are better value for money. The Conrad story is available on its own or as part of various collections.</p><p></p><p>The poetry selection will be provided, but if you would like to read more, the tutor recommends <em>Poetry of the Thirties</em>, edited by Robin Skelton, published by Penguin Modern Classics.</p><p>Copies of the short stories by Elizabeth Bowen will be provided, but if you would like to read more, the tutor recommends the <em>Collected Stories</em> with an introduction by Angus Wilson, published by Vintage.</p><p>Please contact the tutor for advice if necessary.</p><p></p><p>Look for other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual191239155HLT249NONETue22/09/26 - 10/11/2610:30 - 12:3010:3012:308 sessions (over 8 weeks)85-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetLewis WardBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities239239British Literature 1900-1950british-literature-1900-1950/hlt249-2627<p>Explore and discuss novels, poems and short stories by seminal British authors including E. M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Bowen, discovering how they responded to and illuminated the social, political and psychological upheavals of this period of British history. </p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>The first half of the twentieth century was a period of unprecedented social, political and psychological change in Britain. Writers responded by tackling the major concerns of the time, such as fading empire, national identity, two world wars and political movements like fascism and socialism, with a huge variety of innovative literary responses that also sought to convey the impact of such change on the individual psyche. On this course we will study some of the most important texts of the period, beginning with E. M. Forster’s subtle dissection of the late Edwardian era, <em>Howards End</em>, and concluding with Elizabeth Bowen’s unsettling stories of London during the Blitz. In between we will closely read Virginia Woolf’s masterly study of post-WWI London society, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em>, and get a taste of the exciting new poets who emerged in the 1930s, including Stevie Smith and W. H. Auden. We will also explore how for former seafarer Joseph Conrad, travel offered situations that reveal the hidden depths of human nature, for example in his haunting and enigmatic story ‘The Secret Sharer’.</p><p>Explore and discuss novels, poems and short stories by seminal British authors including E. M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Bowen, discovering how they responded to and illuminated the social, political and psychological upheavals of this period of British history. </p><ul><li>Week 1 - Introduction</li><li>Week 2 - Manners, Morals and Liberal Guilt: E. M. Forster, <em>Howards End</em> (1910)</li><li>Week 3 - Who Shall Inherit England? E. M. Forster, <em>Howards End</em> (1910)</li><li>Week 4 - Travel and the Unconscious: Joseph Conrad, ‘The Secret Sharer’ (1910)</li><li>Week 5 - Being and Time in Postwar London: Virginia Woolf, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em> (1925)</li><li>Week 6 - How to Critique the Social System: Virginia Woolf, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em> (1925)</li><li>Week 7 - Industrial Technology, Political Upheaval and the Threat of War: 1930s Poets</li><li>Week 8 - Psychologies of the Blitz: Elizabeth Bowen, selected short stories</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss significant British novels, stories and poems from the first half of the twentieth century</li><li>Understand the ways in which these texts both reflect and embody social, political and psychological change</li><li>Recognise the techniques and styles of some of the most important writers of the period</li></ul>All you need is enthusiasm for reading and discussing literature.<p>The class will be highly participatory and interactive, with a combination of tutor presentation, small group work, close reading exercises and class discussion.</p><p>Please bring copies of <em>Howards End </em>by E M. Forster, <em>Mrs Dalloway</em> by Virginia Woolf and ‘The Secret Sharer’ by Joseph Conrad. Any edition is fine, but look for ones with a good introduction as they are better value for money. The Conrad story is available on its own or as part of various collections.</p><p></p><p>The poetry selection will be provided, but if you would like to read more, the tutor recommends <em>Poetry of the Thirties</em>, edited by Robin Skelton, published by Penguin Modern Classics.</p><p>Copies of the short stories by Elizabeth Bowen will be provided, but if you would like to read more, the tutor recommends the <em>Collected Stories</em> with an introduction by Angus Wilson, published by Vintage.</p><p>Please contact the tutor for advice if necessary.</p><p></p><p>Look for other literature 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
