Historical fiction: reimagining and rewriting

What is the course about?

This course looks in detail at three works of historical fiction and their vivid reimagining of the past. Francis Spufford’s fast-moving novel Golden Hill (2016) is set in New York in 1746. Emma Donoghue’s collection of short stories, The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits (2002), recreates moments from women’s lives, the famous and the forgotten, predominantly from the nineteenth century. Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed Hamnet (2020) begins in 1596, telling the moving story of a famous playwright’s son and his marriage.

We’ll think about how these different forms of historical fiction tell their stories with creative blends of literary invention and historical sources, and how their rewriting both illuminates and challenges ideas we may have about the past. We’ll think about how historical fiction belongs to its time of writing, too: how and why do these historical fictions pull us back to questions about our present?

What will we cover?

We’ll cover a variety of topics to reflect on our experience as readers and to investigate historical fiction’s strategies for reimagining times and places. We will consider the expectations we bring as readers, the literary ancestors and origins of our selected texts, and how these can influence our reading. We will consider what makes a fiction feel ‘authentic’, including details of style, language and perspective, as well as its story and historical setting. We will think too about how fiction can reflect on writing, on written records and on whose stories are preserved or forgotten.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Discuss these texts confidently, with an extended knowledge of historical fiction and its literary study
• Extend your understanding of literary form and narrative techniques
• Discuss ideas about fiction, historical knowledge and rewriting.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

You need to have an enthusiasm for reading contemporary historical fiction, listening to others and participating in discussions. You don’t need to have studied literature formally.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Work outside the class involves doing the reading for each week, with questions provided for you to think about in advance.

Teaching on the course includes: short presentations from the tutor, whole group discussion, small group activities, close reading and analysis, and working with additional materials such as audio clips. Guided by the tutor, the focus is on participation and interaction, with opportunities for sharing your responses and ideas.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need to buy or borrow the following, all available in paperback.

Emma Donoghue, The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits (Virago, 2002)
Francis Spufford, Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York (Scribner, 2016)
Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet (Tinder Press, 2020)

The tutor will provide links to other reading and class materials.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please see HLT278 Ways into advanced Literature: disruptors, transgressors and storytellers and other courses on our website www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture and Writing/Literature/Fiction.