European Fiction in Translation

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No prior knowledge necessary.

Content of Course

By studying writers from different countries, backgrounds and traditions, we will explore the depth and range of European writing. You will be invited to discuss what 'modern', 'postmodern' and 'realist' means in connection with fictional work. How do writers find a distinct voice and what are the means and techniques they use to convey their ideas? How did the techniques change over time? Students will be encouraged – through discussion and groupwork – to discuss the texts in a lucid and articulate style, referring to literary themes and techniques. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will:

• Feel comfortable with identifying and using terms such as 'modern', 'postmodern', 'realist' in connection with fictional work;

• Be able to critically engage with fictional texts. Describing and analysing themes and techniques and delivering the results in a suitably literary manner;

• Have a general understanding of the development of the European novel in the twentieth century.

Sources

Core Readings

Students are advised to wait until the course has been confirmed to run before purchasing any of the recommended books.

Essential:

• Turgenev, I. (2008) First Love and Other Stories. Oxford: Oxford World's Classics.

• Döblin, A. (2019) Berlin Alexanderplatz.

• Tabucchi A. (2021) Requiem: A Hallucination. London: Penguin.

• Tokarczuk, O. (2019) Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. London: Fitzcarraldo.

• Marías, J. (2019) Berta Isla. London: Penguin.

The editions shown are the ones currently in print. Students may use any other edition.

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.