South Asian fictions
This course has now finished
Course Code: HLT160
Duration: 10 sessions (over 12 weeks)
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What is the course about?
You will read, analyse and discuss renowned works of South Asian fiction in English, including a tale of the Raj by Kamila Shamsie, a modern parable by Mohsin Hamid, a ‘lost’ and newly rediscovered masterpiece of postcolonial family drama by Attia Hosain, an experimental autofiction by Amit Chaudhuri, and a haunting story of love and conflict in Kashmir by Mirza Waheed.
What will we cover?
You will read outstanding fictions about South Asia, which range from memories of lost childhoods to
records of life during the British Raj, to dramatic depictions of political conflicts in the region and complex social relationships of class and gender.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Become familiar with the works of some of the most renowned writers from South Asia
Understand their particular themes and styles.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Anyone with an interest in 20th century fiction with a cosmopolitan sweep is welcome and an interest in South Asia is an advantage, but not a necessity. You will need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in a group. You will be willing and able to read and prepare outside the class. You will be interested in listening to, and learning from, the responses of other students to the works discussed. You will have a commitment to developing your analytical skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There will be a mixture of tutor input and class discussion. The first session will be an introduction to the texts by the tutor.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please buy or borrow the following titles:
A God in Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie
The Book of Golden Leaves by Mirza Waheed
Friend of my Youth by Amit Chaudhuri
How To Get Filthy Rich in Modern Asia by Mohsin Hamid
Sunlight on a Broken Column by Attia Hosain.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please see other literature courses at www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture and Writing/literature/fiction.