Lit of the Manor House

In this course we will investigate the rich and complex history of the genre of English manor house fiction. Focusing on texts ranging from Jane Austen'sNorthanger Abbeyand E. M. Forster'sHowards Endto Kazuo Ishiguro'sThe Remains of the Day, Sarah Waters'The Little Stranger, and Ian McEwan'sAtonement, we will explore issues of gender, sexuality, race, and especially class in both course readings and class discussions. Furthermore, we'll examine a number of filmic representations of British country house life, including Robert Altman'sGosford Parkand Julian Fellowes'sDownton Abbey. In addition to crafting course papers, students will have the option to research, create, and showcase their own multi-media projects exploring virtual manor homes via a range of freely downloadable programs and platforms.