The last couple of decades have seen an explosion of a relatively new kind of writing - the memoir. Stories of abusive childhoods, extraordinary parents, and uncovered family secrets fill the shelves of bookshops. Some are mockingly dubbed misery memoirs, some even exposed as fakes. But among them are some masterpieces of modern writing - accounts of painful coming to maturity, or of the growth towards a deeper understanding o...
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In this in-class literature course we’ll be reading a range of memoirs from Britain, America and Europe, includingThis Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff, a hilarious and touching account of a childhood on the run, And when did you last see your father, Blake Morrison’s moving attempt to understand the mystery of his enigmatic father, and Free by Leah Yipi, the prize winning story of a young girl coming of age in an Albania struggling to emerge from communist dictatorship
What will we cover?
We’ll discuss why this unprecedentedly intimate form has proved so attractive in modern times, and compare the different ways in which writers from different backgrounds have chosen to tell their stories.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
-Extend your reading of the modern memoir genre -Recognise and respond to the works of related writers -Evaluate and discuss the genre in a more informed manner
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You will need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups. You will be willing and able to do some reading and preparation outside the class. You should be interested in listening to, and learning from, the responses of other students to the work discussed, and have a commitment to developing your analytical skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
A mixture of lecture, discussion, reading, large and small group work. There will be reading homework each week.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Students will need to buy or borrow the following texts in these editions:
This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff (Bloomsbury)
And when did you last see your father? By Blake Morrison (Granta/Penguin)
Free by Lea Yipi (Penguin)
Further texts tbc
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please look for other fiction courses in the Literature programme under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Julian Birkett is a teacher and writer specialising in modern literature. He previously worked in the Arts department at the BBC as a producer of series such as The Late Show, Modern Poets in their Own Words, The Victorians and The Culture Show. He has taught in London and at the University of Mumbai.He aims to create a friendly but thoughtful atmosphere in his City Lit classes and to provide a stimulating variety of activities from tutor input to discussion to group work and video clips.
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
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We will read and consider a selection.</p>003037543Great Memoirs279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/get-together-and-read-hlt137-1080.jpgInStockDaytimeMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-21T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT170279279Great Memoirs223181279Julian Birkettgreat-memoirs/hlt170-2627<p>The last couple of decades have seen an explosion of a relatively new kind of writing - the memoir. Stories of abusive childhoods, extraordinary parents, and uncovered family secrets fill the shelves of bookshops. Some are mockingly dubbed misery memoirs, some even exposed as fakes. But among them are some masterpieces of modern writing - accounts of painful coming to maturity, or of the growth towards a deeper understanding of a world always taken for granted. We will read and consider a selection.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-21 00:00:00<p>In this in-class literature course we’ll be reading a range of memoirs from Britain, America and Europe, including<em>This Boy’s Life</em> by Tobias Wolff, a hilarious and touching account of a childhood on the run, <em>And when did you last see your father</em>, Blake Morrison’s moving attempt to understand the mystery of his enigmatic father, and <em>Free </em>by Leah Yipi, the prize winning story of a young girl coming of age in an Albania struggling to emerge from communist dictatorship</p><p></p><p>The last couple of decades have seen an explosion of a relatively new kind of writing - the memoir. Stories of abusive childhoods, extraordinary parents, and uncovered family secrets fill the shelves of bookshops. Some are mockingly dubbed misery memoirs, some even exposed as fakes. But among them are some masterpieces of modern writing - accounts of painful coming to maturity, or of the growth towards a deeper understanding of a world always taken for granted. We will read and consider a selection.</p><p>We’ll discuss why this unprecedentedly intimate form has proved so attractive in modern times, and compare the different ways in which writers from different backgrounds have chosen to tell their stories.</p><p>-Extend your reading of the modern memoir genre<br>-Recognise and respond to the works of related writers<br>-Evaluate and discuss the genre in a more informed manner<br></p><p></p><p>You will need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups.<br>You will be willing and able to do some reading and preparation outside the class.<br>You should be interested in listening to, and learning from, the responses of other students to the work discussed, and have a commitment to developing your analytical skills.</p><p>A mixture of lecture, discussion, reading, large and small group work. There will be reading homework each week.</p><p>Students will need to buy or borrow the following texts in these editions:</p><p>This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff (Bloomsbury) </p><p>And when did you last see your father? By Blake Morrison (Granta/Penguin)</p><p>Free by Lea Yipi (Penguin)</p><p>Further texts tbc</p><p>Please look for other fiction courses in the Literature programme under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual223279181HLT170NONEMon21/09/26 - 30/11/2610:30 - 12:3010:3012:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetJulian BirkettBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-21T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities279279Great Memoirsgreat-memoirs/hlt170-2627<p>The last couple of decades have seen an explosion of a relatively new kind of writing - the memoir. Stories of abusive childhoods, extraordinary parents, and uncovered family secrets fill the shelves of bookshops. Some are mockingly dubbed misery memoirs, some even exposed as fakes. But among them are some masterpieces of modern writing - accounts of painful coming to maturity, or of the growth towards a deeper understanding of a world always taken for granted. We will read and consider a selection.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-21 00:00:00<p>In this in-class literature course we’ll be reading a range of memoirs from Britain, America and Europe, including<em>This Boy’s Life</em> by Tobias Wolff, a hilarious and touching account of a childhood on the run, <em>And when did you last see your father</em>, Blake Morrison’s moving attempt to understand the mystery of his enigmatic father, and <em>Free </em>by Leah Yipi, the prize winning story of a young girl coming of age in an Albania struggling to emerge from communist dictatorship</p><p></p><p>The last couple of decades have seen an explosion of a relatively new kind of writing - the memoir. Stories of abusive childhoods, extraordinary parents, and uncovered family secrets fill the shelves of bookshops. Some are mockingly dubbed misery memoirs, some even exposed as fakes. But among them are some masterpieces of modern writing - accounts of painful coming to maturity, or of the growth towards a deeper understanding of a world always taken for granted. We will read and consider a selection.</p><p>We’ll discuss why this unprecedentedly intimate form has proved so attractive in modern times, and compare the different ways in which writers from different backgrounds have chosen to tell their stories.</p><p>-Extend your reading of the modern memoir genre<br>-Recognise and respond to the works of related writers<br>-Evaluate and discuss the genre in a more informed manner<br></p><p></p><p>You will need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups.<br>You will be willing and able to do some reading and preparation outside the class.<br>You should be interested in listening to, and learning from, the responses of other students to the work discussed, and have a commitment to developing your analytical skills.</p><p>A mixture of lecture, discussion, reading, large and small group work. There will be reading homework each week.</p><p>Students will need to buy or borrow the following texts in these editions:</p><p>This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff (Bloomsbury) </p><p>And when did you last see your father? By Blake Morrison (Granta/Penguin)</p><p>Free by Lea Yipi (Penguin)</p><p>Further texts tbc</p><p>Please look for other fiction courses in the Literature programme under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionconfigurable
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