Women with a view: British short fiction of the mid-century
Time: 15:00 - 17:00
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: HLT343
- Dates: 12/06/25 - 03/07/25
- Time: 15:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Thu, Daytime
- Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Patricia Sweeney
Course Code: HLT343
Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This short in-college course looks at short stories from the 1940s and 50s written by women, that change preconceptions we might have about gender, genre, war time and the post WW2 era. While the term 'feminist' was not used in relation to these writings, these stories reflect an awareness of change, in society and in the individual.
The short story, Bowen once declared, is a form that 'allows for what is crazy about humanity: obstinacies, inordinate heroisms, "immortal longings" '. -Lucy Scholes, Introduction to 'A Different Sound' Pushkin Press, 2023.
What will we cover?
Using the book 'A Different Sound': Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers' we will look at short fiction by the following writers:
Elizabeth Bowen
Elizabeth Jane Howard
Penelope Mortimer
Elizabeth Taylor
Sylvia Townsend Warner
Daphne du Maurier
Additional materials will be supplied by the tutor.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
-Recognise the social and cultural framework for each story
-Develop close reading skills to analyse the short story form for meaning
-Develop understanding of narrative structure and character development in short fiction.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No previous literary study is required, just an interest in mid-20th century short fiction and a willingness to
discuss the texts and listen to the views of others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Short lecture, power point, large and small group discussion.
The only required work is to read the stories assigned by the tutor before the class session.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please buy or borrow:
A Different Sound:Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers (ed. Lucy Scholes) Pushkin Press: 2023 & 2024
Additional materials will be supplied by the tutor.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other fiction courses on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture & Writing/Literature/Fiction.
Patricia Sweeney is Programme Coordinator for Literature at City Lit. She has been working in the university and adult education sectors for over 20 years, with specialist teaching interests in American cultural studies, modern and contemporary British and American fiction, drama and film adaptation. In addition to her work at City Lit, Patricia has taught Literature courses for the Open University, Literature, Drama and Film courses for Birkbeck, University of London and contributed to MA and PGCE courses at the Institute of Education, University College London.
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.