Contemporary American Picaresque: John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong, Percival Everett
Come and explore the rewards of reading three modern American picaresque novels. We’ll read, analyse, and debate three novels which all reinvent the picaresque tradition in response to social issues: the posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning A Confederacy of Dunces (1980), by John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying (1973), and Percival Everett’s Erasure (2001). Relish in the outlandish humour, sharp satire, and playful iro...
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This in-college course examines the origins of the picaresque tradition in the Spanish Renaissance, its literary conventions, episodic structure, moral engagement, satirical dissection of society, features of the rogue-adventurer as well as the first ‘picara’ – the female anti-hero. We’ll consider how these conventions have been adapted by American writers by exploring extracts from Mark Twain, Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, Philip Roth and JP Donleavy. We’ll raise contextual issues regarding the American South, Black African-American experience, urban living, and the Jewish-American diaspora. The three novels will be discussed within this backdrop and discussed in relation to consumerism, class, gender and sexual politics of second wave feminism, and Black-American issues of identity.
What will we cover?
We will begin with examining John Kennedy Toole’s New Orleans novel of the 1960s, discussing his use of the grotesque, farce, and black humour to depict Ignatius O’ Reilly, the picaro-misfit, and the array of eccentric characters that populate the novel. Examining the outsider ‘marginal’ status of the picaro, the course explores how such a perspective is used to satirise social customs and social change.
Erica Jong’s celebrated jet-setting and controversial ‘picara’, is the rogue female anti-hero, Isadora Wing. We explore how feminist attitudes to female sexual autonomy are depicted with satirical ambivalence. The seminars will focus on why the novel was both celebrated by a generation of female readers and divisive within feminist circles.
Finally, the course examines the post-modern world of the Black American scholar, Percival Everett, who confesses to have been burdened with the gift of ‘pathological irony’. Everett’s writer-hero's unsuccessful career meets with a sudden unexpected success when he chooses to abandon his experimental fiction in favour of writing a novel in African-American vernacular about black misery and chaos ‘in the ghetto’, named My Pafology.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Appreciate the challenges and rewards of the modern American picaresque
Understand the functions of the rogue anti-hero
Identify a range of narrative devices, including irony and episodic structure
Discuss contexts, traditions, and social forces pertinent to each novel
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Some experience of the study of literary fiction would be useful but all who are interested in the picaresque in Literature are welcome.
Learners will need to have an enthusiasm for fiction, an open-mindedness towards different approaches to interpretation, and a willingness to listen to the views of others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There will be a mixture of tutor presentation and small-group and whole-class discussion. We will study key passages from each text in class and you will need to read the stories before the session.
Please read the novels, using the guided reading support materials sent by the tutor to advance understanding. These materials help a focused approach to independent study. Key extracts will be provided in advance of the class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need to buy or borrow:
A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole, Penguin Modern Classics, 978-0-141-18286-5
Fear of Flying, Erica Jong, Virago Modern Classics, 978-0-749-39605-3
Alexander has taught advanced Literature and English Language for over twenty-five years. A Former Head of English, Alexander currently teaches Literature courses to adults at The Questors Theatre, Ealing, and to students at a 6th Form College in Kensington. He has been writing a book on the critical reception of JG Ballard, worked at three top ten 6th Form Colleges, and trained A level teachers how to teach ‘Critical Discourse Analysis’. He holds an MA distinction in Shakespeare Studies, a PGCE, a first in English Literature BA (hons.), and a DipEngl in English Language. An FRSA, he brings a passionate commitment to life-long learning, to making connections between disciplines, and to creating supportive and engaging learning environments.
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/contemporary-american-picaresque-john-kennedy-toole-erica-jong-percival-everett2744906Contemporary American Picaresque: John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong, Percival Everetthttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/fiction-1024.jpg219219GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction22851177118711881228511771187<p>Come and explore the rewards of reading three modern American picaresque novels. We’ll read, analyse, and debate three novels which all reinvent the picaresque tradition in response to social issues: the posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning <em>A Confederacy of Dunces </em>(1980), by John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong’s<em> Fear of Flying </em>(1973), and Percival Everett’s <em>Erasure </em>(2001). Relish in the outlandish humour, sharp satire, and playful irony as we follow the misadventures of three contemporary ‘rogue’ anti-heroes. </p>002744813Contemporary American Picaresque: John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong, Percival Everett219219https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/fiction-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-04-28T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allApr 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT332219219Contemporary American Picaresque: John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong, Percival Everett175142219Alexander Fairbairn-Dixoncontemporary-american-picaresque-john-kennedy-toole-erica-jong-percival-everett/hlt332-2526<p>Come and explore the rewards of reading three modern American picaresque novels. We’ll read, analyse, and debate three novels which all reinvent the picaresque tradition in response to social issues: the posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning <em>A Confederacy of Dunces </em>(1980), by John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong’s<em> Fear of Flying </em>(1973), and Percival Everett’s <em>Erasure </em>(2001). Relish in the outlandish humour, sharp satire, and playful irony as we follow the misadventures of three contemporary ‘rogue’ anti-heroes. </p>0000-Available|2026-04-28 00:00:00<p>This in-college course examines the origins of the picaresque tradition in the Spanish Renaissance, its literary conventions, episodic structure, moral engagement, satirical dissection of society, features of the rogue-adventurer as well as the first ‘picara’ – the female anti-hero. We’ll consider how these conventions have been adapted by American writers by exploring extracts from Mark Twain, Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, Philip Roth and JP Donleavy. We’ll raise contextual issues regarding the American South, Black African-American experience, urban living, and the Jewish-American diaspora. The three novels will be discussed within this backdrop and discussed in relation to consumerism, class, gender and sexual politics of second wave feminism, and Black-American issues of identity. </p><p>Come and explore the rewards of reading three modern American picaresque novels. We’ll read, analyse, and debate three novels which all reinvent the picaresque tradition in response to social issues: the posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning <em>A Confederacy of Dunces </em>(1980), by John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong’s<em> Fear of Flying </em>(1973), and Percival Everett’s <em>Erasure </em>(2001). Relish in the outlandish humour, sharp satire, and playful irony as we follow the misadventures of three contemporary ‘rogue’ anti-heroes. </p><p>We will begin with examining John Kennedy Toole’s New Orleans novel of the 1960s, discussing his use of the grotesque, farce, and black humour to depict Ignatius O’ Reilly, the picaro-misfit, and the array of eccentric characters that populate the novel. Examining the outsider ‘marginal’ status of the picaro, the course explores how such a perspective is used to satirise social customs and social change. </p><p>Erica Jong’s celebrated jet-setting and controversial ‘picara’, is the rogue female anti-hero, Isadora Wing. We explore how feminist attitudes to female sexual autonomy are depicted with satirical ambivalence. The seminars will focus on why the novel was both celebrated by a generation of female readers and divisive within feminist circles. </p><p>Finally, the course examines the post-modern world of the Black American scholar, Percival Everett, who confesses to have been burdened with the gift of ‘pathological irony’. Everett’s writer-hero's unsuccessful career meets with a sudden unexpected success when he chooses to abandon his experimental fiction in favour of writing a novel in African-American vernacular about black misery and chaos ‘in the ghetto’, named <em>My Pafology</em>. </p><ul><li>Appreciate the challenges and rewards of the modern American picaresque</li><li>Understand the functions of the rogue anti-hero </li><li>Identify a range of narrative devices, including irony and episodic structure</li><li>Discuss contexts, traditions, and social forces pertinent to each novel</li></ul><p>Some experience of the study of literary fiction would be useful but all who are interested in the picaresque in Literature are welcome.<br/><br/>Learners will need to have an enthusiasm for fiction, an open-mindedness towards different approaches to interpretation, and a willingness to listen to the views of others. </p><p>There will be a mixture of tutor presentation and small-group and whole-class discussion. We will study key passages from each text in class and you will need to read the stories before the session. </p><p>Please read the novels, using the guided reading support materials sent by the tutor to advance understanding. These materials help a focused approach to independent study. Key extracts will be provided in advance of the class.</p><p>You will need to buy or borrow:</p><p><em>A Confederacy of Dunces</em>, John Kennedy Toole, Penguin Modern Classics, 978-0-141-18286-5</p><p><em>Fear of Flying</em>, Erica Jong, Virago Modern Classics, 978-0-749-39605-3</p><p><em>Erasure</em>, Percival Everett, Faber & Faber, 978-0-571-37089-4</p><p> </p><p>Look for other courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Writing/Literature at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual175219142HLT332NONETue28/04/26 - 23/06/2615:00 - 17:0015:0017:008 sessions (over 9 weeks)85-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetAlexander Fairbairn-DixonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-04-28T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2026Culture, history & humanities219219Contemporary American Picaresque: John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong, Percival Everettcontemporary-american-picaresque-john-kennedy-toole-erica-jong-percival-everett/hlt332-2526<p>Come and explore the rewards of reading three modern American picaresque novels. We’ll read, analyse, and debate three novels which all reinvent the picaresque tradition in response to social issues: the posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning <em>A Confederacy of Dunces </em>(1980), by John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong’s<em> Fear of Flying </em>(1973), and Percival Everett’s <em>Erasure </em>(2001). Relish in the outlandish humour, sharp satire, and playful irony as we follow the misadventures of three contemporary ‘rogue’ anti-heroes. </p>0000-Available|2026-04-28 00:00:00<p>This in-college course examines the origins of the picaresque tradition in the Spanish Renaissance, its literary conventions, episodic structure, moral engagement, satirical dissection of society, features of the rogue-adventurer as well as the first ‘picara’ – the female anti-hero. We’ll consider how these conventions have been adapted by American writers by exploring extracts from Mark Twain, Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, Philip Roth and JP Donleavy. We’ll raise contextual issues regarding the American South, Black African-American experience, urban living, and the Jewish-American diaspora. The three novels will be discussed within this backdrop and discussed in relation to consumerism, class, gender and sexual politics of second wave feminism, and Black-American issues of identity. </p><p>Come and explore the rewards of reading three modern American picaresque novels. We’ll read, analyse, and debate three novels which all reinvent the picaresque tradition in response to social issues: the posthumous Pulitzer Prize winning <em>A Confederacy of Dunces </em>(1980), by John Kennedy Toole, Erica Jong’s<em> Fear of Flying </em>(1973), and Percival Everett’s <em>Erasure </em>(2001). Relish in the outlandish humour, sharp satire, and playful irony as we follow the misadventures of three contemporary ‘rogue’ anti-heroes. </p><p>We will begin with examining John Kennedy Toole’s New Orleans novel of the 1960s, discussing his use of the grotesque, farce, and black humour to depict Ignatius O’ Reilly, the picaro-misfit, and the array of eccentric characters that populate the novel. Examining the outsider ‘marginal’ status of the picaro, the course explores how such a perspective is used to satirise social customs and social change. </p><p>Erica Jong’s celebrated jet-setting and controversial ‘picara’, is the rogue female anti-hero, Isadora Wing. We explore how feminist attitudes to female sexual autonomy are depicted with satirical ambivalence. The seminars will focus on why the novel was both celebrated by a generation of female readers and divisive within feminist circles. </p><p>Finally, the course examines the post-modern world of the Black American scholar, Percival Everett, who confesses to have been burdened with the gift of ‘pathological irony’. Everett’s writer-hero's unsuccessful career meets with a sudden unexpected success when he chooses to abandon his experimental fiction in favour of writing a novel in African-American vernacular about black misery and chaos ‘in the ghetto’, named <em>My Pafology</em>. </p><ul><li>Appreciate the challenges and rewards of the modern American picaresque</li><li>Understand the functions of the rogue anti-hero </li><li>Identify a range of narrative devices, including irony and episodic structure</li><li>Discuss contexts, traditions, and social forces pertinent to each novel</li></ul><p>Some experience of the study of literary fiction would be useful but all who are interested in the picaresque in Literature are welcome.<br/><br/>Learners will need to have an enthusiasm for fiction, an open-mindedness towards different approaches to interpretation, and a willingness to listen to the views of others. </p><p>There will be a mixture of tutor presentation and small-group and whole-class discussion. We will study key passages from each text in class and you will need to read the stories before the session. </p><p>Please read the novels, using the guided reading support materials sent by the tutor to advance understanding. These materials help a focused approach to independent study. Key extracts will be provided in advance of the class.</p><p>You will need to buy or borrow:</p><p><em>A Confederacy of Dunces</em>, John Kennedy Toole, Penguin Modern Classics, 978-0-141-18286-5</p><p><em>Fear of Flying</em>, Erica Jong, Virago Modern Classics, 978-0-749-39605-3</p><p><em>Erasure</em>, Percival Everett, Faber &amp; Faber, 978-0-571-37089-4</p><p> </p><p>Look for other courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Writing/Literature 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
