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This course, the first in a series about retelling classic novels, focuses on Nineteen Eighty-Four(1949) and Julia (2023). How does reading the two works together open up new interpretations and questions for us as readers?
George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian vision of political control. Under the leadership of Big Brother, the ruling Party exerts an iron grip on Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain. Winston Smith works for the Party but secretly dreams of freedom and rebellion. When he meets Julia they start a forbidden affair, but nothing can be kept secret and terrifying consequences follow.
Sandra Newman’s Julia (2023) expands the world of Orwell’s novel to reveal the details of Julia’s life in a Party hostel and a childhood shaped by the turmoil and traumas of revolution. How do the women of Airstrip One survive? ‘A powerful feat of imagination and empathy which breathes new life into Orwell’s nightmare.’ (Dorian Lynskey)
What will we cover?
This online course includes a mix of literary, critical and historical topics. Reading these two novels we’ll explore characterization, themes and narrative styles, and the historical and social contexts in which the texts were written and published. We’ll also consider the effects of reading these novels together. What is the nature of the relationship between the two texts? How does Nineteen Eighty-Four shape how we understand Julia? And in what ways does Newman’s work change or challenge our reading of Orwell’s? Can we think of a ‘companion novel’ as a standalone work? To inform these discussions we’ll draw on critical and theoretical ideas including fidelity, writing back and intertextuality.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Discuss these novels and relationships between them with confidence
Consider their characters, themes, plotting and narration
Develop your understanding of the novels’ historical and social contexts
Consider critical and theoretical questions about companion novels and retelling, and take away ideas to enhance your future reading.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for everyone who is enthusiastic about reading and discussing fiction and ideas. You don’t need to have studied literature formally, and you don’t need to have read either of the novelsbefore.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Teaching on the course includes: short presentations from the tutor, structured discussions, close reading and analysis, and working with additional materials such as video clips. Guided by the tutor, the focus is on participation and interaction, with opportunities for sharing responses and ideas. Work outside the class involves doing the reading for each week, with questions provided for you to think about in advance.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You’ll need to buy or borrow these books, both available in paperback:
George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (e.g. Penguin classics edition)
Sandra Newman, Julia (Granta Books, 2023)
The tutor will provide links to other class materials and further reading.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
In term one Kate Wilkinson will also be teaching the in-college course, HLT183 Exploring Literature: an introduction to prose and poetry, starting on 1 October 2026 on a Thursday. Look for other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanties at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Kate is a teacher and researcher in English literature. She holds a PhD in English from Queen Mary, University of London, where she has also taught on a range of literature courses. Kate’s specialist interest is twenty-first-century fiction, and she’s delighted to be teaching new City Lit courses about contemporary writing. Kate is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority, and a member of the British Association for Contemporary Literary Studies. She has published articles in academic journals and is now working on a book about contemporary novels and letters. Kate is fascinated by new writing, and only gradually coming to terms with the fact that there will never be enough time to read everything she’d like to.
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/classics-revisited-nineteen-eighty-four-by-george-orwell-and-julia-by-sandra-newman3037585Classics Revisited: Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell and Julia by Sandra Newmanhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/demystifying-poetry-hlt354-1080.jpg8989GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction/Courses/Online courses228511771187118817311228511771187<p>This online literature course explores George Orwell’s classic <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and Sandra Newman’s acclaimed novel <em>Julia</em> (2023).</p><p></p>003037567Classics Revisited: Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell and Julia by Sandra Newman8989https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/demystifying-poetry-hlt354-1080.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT2508989Classics Revisited: Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell and Julia by Sandra Newman895889Kate Wilkinsonclassics-revisited-nineteen-eighty-four-by-george-orwell-and-julia-by-sandra-newman/hlt250-2627<p>This online literature course explores George Orwell’s classic <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and Sandra Newman’s acclaimed novel <em>Julia</em> (2023).</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>This course, the first in a series about retelling classic novels, focuses on <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and <em>Julia</em> (2023). How does reading the two works together open up new interpretations and questions for us as readers?</p><p>George Orwell’s <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em> is a dystopian vision of political control. Under the leadership of Big Brother, the ruling Party exerts an iron grip on Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain. Winston Smith works for the Party but secretly dreams of freedom and rebellion. When he meets Julia they start a forbidden affair, but nothing can be kept secret and terrifying consequences follow.</p><p>Sandra Newman’s <em>Julia</em> (2023) expands the world of Orwell’s novel to reveal the details of Julia’s life in a Party hostel and a childhood shaped by the turmoil and traumas of revolution. How do the women of Airstrip One survive? ‘A powerful feat of imagination and empathy which breathes new life into Orwell’s nightmare.’ (Dorian Lynskey)</p><p></p><p></p><p>This online literature course explores George Orwell’s classic <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and Sandra Newman’s acclaimed novel <em>Julia</em> (2023).</p><p></p><p>This online course includes a mix of literary, critical and historical topics. Reading these two novels we’ll explore characterization, themes and narrative styles, and the historical and social contexts in which the texts were written and published. We’ll also consider the effects of reading these novels together. What is the nature of the relationship between the two texts? How does <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em> shape how we understand <em>Julia</em>? And in what ways does Newman’s work change or challenge our reading of Orwell’s? Can we think of a ‘companion novel’ as a standalone work? To inform these discussions we’ll draw on critical and theoretical ideas including fidelity, writing back and intertextuality.</p><p></p><ul><li>Discuss these novels and relationships between them with confidence</li><li>Consider their characters, themes, plotting and narration </li><li>Develop your understanding of the novels’ historical and social contexts </li><li>Consider critical and theoretical questions about companion novels and retelling, and take away ideas to enhance your future reading.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p>This course is for everyone who is enthusiastic about reading and discussing fiction and ideas. You don’t need to have studied literature formally, and you don’t need to have read either of the novels<em> </em>before.</p><p></p><p>Teaching on the course includes: short presentations from the tutor, structured discussions, close reading and analysis, and working with additional materials such as video clips. Guided by the tutor, the focus is on participation and interaction, with opportunities for sharing responses and ideas. Work outside the class involves doing the reading for each week, with questions provided for you to think about in advance.</p><p></p><p>You’ll need to buy or borrow these books, both available in paperback:</p><p>George Orwell, <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em> (e.g. Penguin classics edition)</p><p>Sandra Newman, <em>Julia</em> (Granta Books, 2023) </p><p>The tutor will provide links to other class materials and further reading.</p><p>In term one Kate Wilkinson will also be teaching the in-college course, HLT183 Exploring Literature: an introduction to prose and poetry, starting on 1 October 2026 on a Thursday. Look for other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanties at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual898958HLT250NONETue22/09/26 - 13/10/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:304 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineKate WilkinsonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities8989Classics Revisited: Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell and Julia by Sandra Newmanclassics-revisited-nineteen-eighty-four-by-george-orwell-and-julia-by-sandra-newman/hlt250-2627<p>This online literature course explores George Orwell’s classic <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and Sandra Newman’s acclaimed novel <em>Julia</em> (2023).</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>This course, the first in a series about retelling classic novels, focuses on <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and <em>Julia</em> (2023). How does reading the two works together open up new interpretations and questions for us as readers?</p><p>George Orwell’s <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em> is a dystopian vision of political control. Under the leadership of Big Brother, the ruling Party exerts an iron grip on Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain. Winston Smith works for the Party but secretly dreams of freedom and rebellion. When he meets Julia they start a forbidden affair, but nothing can be kept secret and terrifying consequences follow.</p><p>Sandra Newman’s <em>Julia</em> (2023) expands the world of Orwell’s novel to reveal the details of Julia’s life in a Party hostel and a childhood shaped by the turmoil and traumas of revolution. How do the women of Airstrip One survive? ‘A powerful feat of imagination and empathy which breathes new life into Orwell’s nightmare.’ (Dorian Lynskey)</p><p></p><p></p><p>This online literature course explores George Orwell’s classic <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em>(1949) and Sandra Newman’s acclaimed novel <em>Julia</em> (2023).</p><p></p><p>This online course includes a mix of literary, critical and historical topics. Reading these two novels we’ll explore characterization, themes and narrative styles, and the historical and social contexts in which the texts were written and published. We’ll also consider the effects of reading these novels together. What is the nature of the relationship between the two texts? How does <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em> shape how we understand <em>Julia</em>? And in what ways does Newman’s work change or challenge our reading of Orwell’s? Can we think of a ‘companion novel’ as a standalone work? To inform these discussions we’ll draw on critical and theoretical ideas including fidelity, writing back and intertextuality.</p><p></p><ul><li>Discuss these novels and relationships between them with confidence</li><li>Consider their characters, themes, plotting and narration </li><li>Develop your understanding of the novels’ historical and social contexts </li><li>Consider critical and theoretical questions about companion novels and retelling, and take away ideas to enhance your future reading.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p>This course is for everyone who is enthusiastic about reading and discussing fiction and ideas. You don’t need to have studied literature formally, and you don’t need to have read either of the novels<em> </em>before.</p><p></p><p>Teaching on the course includes: short presentations from the tutor, structured discussions, close reading and analysis, and working with additional materials such as video clips. Guided by the tutor, the focus is on participation and interaction, with opportunities for sharing responses and ideas. Work outside the class involves doing the reading for each week, with questions provided for you to think about in advance.</p><p></p><p>You’ll need to buy or borrow these books, both available in paperback:</p><p>George Orwell, <em>Nineteen Eighty-Four</em> (e.g. Penguin classics edition)</p><p>Sandra Newman, <em>Julia</em> (Granta Books, 2023) </p><p>The tutor will provide links to other class materials and further reading.</p><p>In term one Kate Wilkinson will also be teaching the in-college course, HLT183 Exploring Literature: an introduction to prose and poetry, starting on 1 October 2026 on a Thursday. Look for other literature courses under Culture, History and Humanties 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
