In this online literature course we will explore how British authors of the 1980s approached (and influenced) the emerging world of identity politics, through readings of classic fiction by Angela Carter, Jeanette Winterson and Hanif Kureishi.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
In 1985, the young mixed-race author Hanif Kureishi declared that ‘The fightback is underway … It is the British, the white British, who have to learn that being British isn’t what it was.’
On this course we will read Kereishi’s semi-autobiographical The Buddha of Suburbia in this context, considering the impact of this hilarious depiction of a London upbringing on the literary landscape.
Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit was another seminal coming-of-age fiction but with a very different angle. Winterson was ‘arguably the first popular, established British writer to write consistently and openly from a lesbian perspective’, but she also found new ways to subvert patriarchal values in her novel’s use and abuse of the Bible.
Also operating in what some were by now calling the ‘post-feminist’ world was Angela Carter, already one of the most important British writers but pushing new boundaries in the wildly inventive Nights at the Circus, which in myriad ways rejected not just gender norms but the very ‘laws’ of biology.
What will we cover?
Biography: the significance of autobiographical elements to these authors’ works
Style: fictional incorporations of the fantastic, the explicit and the scriptural
Characters: youth, identity and shock value
Reception: critical and popular reaction to challenging new attitudes and ideas
Context: the emergence of identity politics in Thatcher’s Britain
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Discuss important examples of 1980s British literature in an informed manner
Understand the autobiographical and contextual background to these works
Recognise some stylistic characteristics of three seminal British authors
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 buy or borrow a copy of the following, ideally in the stated editions.
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (Vintage Classics, 978-0099388616)
Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (Vintage, 978-0099598183)
Hanif Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia (Faber, 978-0571333547)
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other Fiction courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Humanities/Literature/Fiction 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.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/british-literature-of-the-1980s-identities2744885British Literature of the 1980s: Identitieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/autobiography-into-poetry-hw640-1024.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction/Courses/Online courses228511771187118817311228511771187<p>In this online literature course we will explore how British authors of the 1980s approached (and influenced) the emerging world of identity politics, through readings of classic fiction by Angela Carter, Jeanette Winterson and Hanif Kureishi.</p>002744786British Literature of the 1980s: Identities149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/autobiography-into-poetry-hw640-1024.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-26T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMay 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT215149149British Literature of the 1980s: Identities14997149Lewis Wardbritish-literature-of-the-1980s-identities/hlt215-2526<p>In this online literature course we will explore how British authors of the 1980s approached (and influenced) the emerging world of identity politics, through readings of classic fiction by Angela Carter, Jeanette Winterson and Hanif Kureishi.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-26 00:00:00<p>In 1985, the young mixed-race author Hanif Kureishi declared that ‘The fightback is underway … It is the British, the white British, who have to learn that being British isn’t what it was.’</p><p>On this course we will read Kereishi’s semi-autobiographical <em>The Buddha of Suburbia</em> in this context, considering the impact of this hilarious depiction of a London upbringing on the literary landscape.</p><p>Jeanette Winterson’s <em>Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit</em> was another seminal coming-of-age fiction but with a very different angle. Winterson was ‘arguably the first popular, established British writer to write consistently and openly from a lesbian perspective’, but she also found new ways to subvert patriarchal values in her novel’s use and abuse of the Bible. </p><p>Also operating in what some were by now calling the ‘post-feminist’ world was Angela Carter, already one of the most important British writers but pushing new boundaries in the wildly inventive <em>Nights at the Circus</em>, which in myriad ways rejected not just gender norms but the very ‘laws’ of biology.</p><p>In this online literature course we will explore how British authors of the 1980s approached (and influenced) the emerging world of identity politics, through readings of classic fiction by Angela Carter, Jeanette Winterson and Hanif Kureishi.</p><ul><li>Biography: the significance of autobiographical elements to these authors’ works</li><li>Style: fictional incorporations of the fantastic, the explicit and the scriptural</li><li>Characters: youth, identity and shock value</li><li>Reception: critical and popular reaction to challenging new attitudes and ideas</li><li>Context: the emergence of identity politics in Thatcher’s Britain</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss important examples of 1980s British literature in an informed manner</li><li>Understand the autobiographical and contextual background to these works</li><li>Recognise some stylistic characteristics of three seminal British authors</li></ul><p>All you need is enthusiasm for reading and discussing literature.</p><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 buy or borrow a copy of the following, ideally in the stated editions.</p><ul><li>Angela Carter, <em>Nights at the Circus</em> (Vintage Classics, 978-0099388616) </li><li>Jeanette Winterson, <em>Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit</em> (Vintage, 978-0099598183)</li><li>Hanif Kureishi, <em>The Buddha of Suburbia</em> (Faber, 978-0571333547)</li></ul><p>Look for other Fiction courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Humanities/Literature/Fiction at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual14914997HLT215NONETue26/05/26 - 30/06/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineLewis WardBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-05-26T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Culture, history & humanities149149British Literature of the 1980s: Identitiesbritish-literature-of-the-1980s-identities/hlt215-2526<p>In this online literature course we will explore how British authors of the 1980s approached (and influenced) the emerging world of identity politics, through readings of classic fiction by Angela Carter, Jeanette Winterson and Hanif Kureishi.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-26 00:00:00<p>In 1985, the young mixed-race author Hanif Kureishi declared that ‘The fightback is underway … It is the British, the white British, who have to learn that being British isn’t what it was.’</p><p>On this course we will read Kereishi’s semi-autobiographical <em>The Buddha of Suburbia</em> in this context, considering the impact of this hilarious depiction of a London upbringing on the literary landscape.</p><p>Jeanette Winterson’s <em>Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit</em> was another seminal coming-of-age fiction but with a very different angle. Winterson was ‘arguably the first popular, established British writer to write consistently and openly from a lesbian perspective’, but she also found new ways to subvert patriarchal values in her novel’s use and abuse of the Bible. </p><p>Also operating in what some were by now calling the ‘post-feminist’ world was Angela Carter, already one of the most important British writers but pushing new boundaries in the wildly inventive <em>Nights at the Circus</em>, which in myriad ways rejected not just gender norms but the very ‘laws’ of biology.</p><p>In this online literature course we will explore how British authors of the 1980s approached (and influenced) the emerging world of identity politics, through readings of classic fiction by Angela Carter, Jeanette Winterson and Hanif Kureishi.</p><ul><li>Biography: the significance of autobiographical elements to these authors’ works</li><li>Style: fictional incorporations of the fantastic, the explicit and the scriptural</li><li>Characters: youth, identity and shock value</li><li>Reception: critical and popular reaction to challenging new attitudes and ideas</li><li>Context: the emergence of identity politics in Thatcher’s Britain</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss important examples of 1980s British literature in an informed manner</li><li>Understand the autobiographical and contextual background to these works</li><li>Recognise some stylistic characteristics of three seminal British authors</li></ul><p>All you need is enthusiasm for reading and discussing literature.</p><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 buy or borrow a copy of the following, ideally in the stated editions.</p><ul><li>Angela Carter, <em>Nights at the Circus</em> (Vintage Classics, 978-0099388616) </li><li>Jeanette Winterson, <em>Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit</em> (Vintage, 978-0099598183)</li><li>Hanif Kureishi, <em>The Buddha of Suburbia</em> (Faber, 978-0571333547)</li></ul><p>Look for other Fiction courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Humanities/Literature/Fiction 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
