London in Writing
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- Start Date: 13 May 2025End Date: 17 Jun 2025Tue (Evening): 18:00 - 19:30OnlineFull fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00
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What is the course about?
On this online course we’ll study a range of recent prose texts about London. We’ll discuss our experiences of reading both fiction and non-fiction, analysing how writers shape our responses.
Reading fiction, we’ll explore writers’ narrative techniques, the characters they create and their different voices, thinking about representations of London and how they help to tell the novels’ stories. Reading non-fiction, we’ll consider writers’ experiences of London and their perspectives on the changing city. We’ll think too about how these contemporary texts are shaped by London’s past and literary history.
We’ll read two novels: Happiness by Aminatta Forna (2018) and Light Perpetual by Frances Spufford (2021). Non-fiction includes work by Lauren Elkin and David Rosenberg.
You’ll be able to discover different forms of writing and representations of London, learn about works of literature that might be new to you, and share your experiences of reading.
What will we cover?
We’ll explore the techniques writers use to bring people and the city to life, and how novelists create characters and shape what we think about them. We’ll think about the different voices in these novels, how they represent multiple experiences of London. Reading non-fiction, we’ll think about the questions writers explore and the techniques they use to engage and persuade their readers.
We’ll consider the historical and social contexts in which the works were written, and think about how this knowledge can enhance our reading and understanding.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Discuss the course texts in an informed way and with confidence
• Consider narrative techniques in both fiction and non-fiction writing
• Build your understanding of the historical and social circumstances that shaped these London texts
• Take away ideas and inspiration to enhance your reading in the future.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for people who enjoy reading and discussing writing and are interested in sharing ideas and listening to the views of others. You don’t need to have studied literature before. This course is ideal if you have completed Exploring Literature: Ways into Prose and Poetry and want to learn more about different forms of writing.
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, 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 responses and ideas.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You’ll need to buy or borrow these books, available in paperback:
Happiness by Aminatta Forna (2018)
Light Perpetual (2021) by Frances Spufford
The tutor will provide links to all other texts and class materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The same tutor is teaching HLT289 Classics Remixed and Retold. Look for other literature courses on our website under History, Culture and Writing/Literature 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.