Fact and Fantasy: English Houses in Fiction
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- Start Date: 30 Oct 2025End Date: 04 Dec 2025Thu (Evening): 18:00 - 19:30OnlineFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00
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What is the course about?
On this online course we will look at three important English novels from three different periods: Under the Greenwood Tree, by Thomas Hardy (1872)The Man of Property (from the Forsyte Saga, Part 1) by John Galsworthy (1906) and Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier (1938). We will think about how the house at the centre of the story helps to build the narrative, how the characters respond to and inhabit the fictional spaces, and the significance they hold. We will look at the experiences of the authors and the real-life models that inspired their fictional dwellings.
What will we cover?
The narratives of three novels: Under the Greenwood Tree, by Thomas Hardy
The Man of Property (fromThe Forsyte Saga, Part 1) by John Galsworthy
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
-What is the function of the house at the centre of each novel?
-How did the life of the author and historical context affect the fictional dwelling in the novel?
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Understand the importance of the house in each story
• Have an understanding of the way the author’s own experiences helped shaped the fictional house
• Develop an understanding of some ideas of architecture/design trends as reflected in the novels.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No previous literary study is necessary but an enthusiasm for reading and a willingness to engage with long fiction is essential.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Some short contextual lectures with Powerpoints, but the course is an interactive mix of large group discussion with some smaller group discussions. We will study chosen sections for discussion each week. Work outside class is reading the set texts. Some secondary reading (such as biographical information on the authors) will be provided but will be summarised by the tutor.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please buy or borrow:
-Under the Greenwood Tree, by Thomas Hardy, 1872, 159 pages (Penguin, 2012)
-The Forsyte Saga, Part I: A Man of Property, by John Galsworthy, 1906, in The Forsyte Saga, Volume 1 (first 363 pages only) Penguin Modern Classics, 2001.
-Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier, 1938 (Virago, 2003), 428 pages.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please look for other fiction courses in the Literature programme under www.citylit.ac.uk/history, culture and writing/literature/fiction.
Phyllis Richardson has written articles, reviews and features for the Guardian, the Observer, the TLS, the Financial Times, the RIBA Journal, The Los Angeles Times Book Review, and others. She is the author of several books on contemporary architecture, including the best-selling XS series. She was coordinator of the Foundation Year in English literature at Goldsmiths, and her latest book is House of Fiction: from Pemberley to Brideshead, Great British Houses in Literature and Life.
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.