CLASS DESCRIPTION

The literary, intellectual and religious revolutions that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries were events whose echoes remain with us still. The purpose of this course is to guide the student through some of the best literary fiction written in that time period, placing each book within its historical context with background information on the authors’ lives and experiences. This class and the modern history course are designed as each other’s complement, and it is recommended but not required that the student who enrolls in this class also consider enrolling in Mr. Banks’ Readings in Later Modern History course as well.

There will be a minimum of graded assignments in this class. At the end of first and second semesters, each student will compose an essay describing what he or she has learned in each of the books we have read together, and the significance of each of these books and authors within the culture of the modern western world.

All of our classes are available as self-paced classes. The self-paced option allows a student to view the classes on their own time. The content of the course is exactly the same, but there are no writing assignments and no grades issued for the high school courses. The self-paced option gives a student access to the streaming videos of the course for a full year. The classes are not discussion based and focus rather on the art and skill of reading well, and in the high school classes, on the Intellectual Tradition of a work. Students from all over the world choose the self-paced option.

Bundle with Readings in Later Modern History at registration and save $50.