The Contemporary Global Novel
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- Start Date: 07 Nov 2025End Date: 12 Dec 2025Fri (Evening): 18:30 - 20:00In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 6 sessions (over -6 weeks)Course Code: HLT365Tutors: Rebecca JonesFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00
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What is the course about?
This in-college course will give you an introduction to the study of contemporary global literature, an understanding of how and why we read literary works across cultures in the context of globalisation, and an encounter with some contemporary global novels. You’ll get the chance to read novels with a global focus, and a sense of how exhilarating it can be to read literature in this way, making connections between texts and ideas beyond national borders.
What will we cover?
We’ll read three contemporary global novels in English by Mohsin Hamid, Rana Dasgupta, and Julie Otsuka, with a broad focus on themes of mobility, travel, migration, diaspora, exile and refugees. We’ll explore the significance of these themes in contemporary global literature, and consider what we learn from reading about them in each of these texts, and through making comparisons between texts and across cultures.
We’ll also discuss questions such as:
• What is ‘global literature’ and the ‘global novel’, and why read it?
• Why is the novel often considered a ‘global’ genre?
• What kinds of texts count as global literature (and who decides)?
• How does global literature differ from other lenses for reading and understanding literature beyond national borders, such as world literature, postcolonial literature or comparative literature?
• How do we read literary texts in the context of globalisation?
Some of the texts we will read are:
Julie Otsuka, The Buddha in the Attic (2013)
Rana Dasgupta, Tokyo Cancelled (2005)
Mohsin Hamid, Exit West (2017)
Alongside these, we will read excerpts from other texts, and critical and theoretical writing on global literature.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand what ‘global literature’ and the ‘global novel’ are, and some of the debates around how we define them
- Read and discuss important contemporary global novels, with reference to themes of mobility and travel.
- Discuss key ideas about how and why we read literary texts in the context of globalisation, and across cultures and national borders.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course and no previous experience or knowledge is necessary. Anyone with an interest in contemporary global novels is welcome.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You’ll be taught through a mixture of tutor presentations, small group work and larger whole group discussions.
The tutor will email you questions to guide your reading of each week’s text, which will be used as the basis for group discussions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need your own copies of the following three texts:
Julie Otsuka, The Buddha in the Attic (2013)
Rana Dasgupta, Tokyo Cancelled (2005)
Mohsin Hamid, Exit West (2017)
All other materials will be provided by the tutor.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other courses on Global Literature in the Literature programme at www.citylit.ac.uk/history, culture & writing/literature.
Rebecca Jones is a researcher and lecturer in African literature, world literatures and travel writing. She has a PhD from the University of Birmingham, where she subsequently worked as a Lecturer, and is now an Honorary Research Fellow at Birmingham. Her first book, At the Crossroads: Nigerian Travel Writing and Literary Culture in Yoruba and English was published in 2019. She is an editor of the literary travel writing journal Fortunate Traveller. She works as a researcher at a charity and also runs creative journalling workshops for mothers.
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.