From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge.  Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.

From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics.  Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column?  Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.

Who

Humanity’s socio-economic condition has long been a topic that appears frequently throughout the history of literature.  This week’s column contemplates some well-known works by several authors in the Western cannon.

What

Some examples of the representation of the socio-economic condition in literature include Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Additional works include Hard Times and Bleak House by Charles Dickens and Poor Folk by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Where

These works are set throughout Great Britain and Imperial Russia.

When

These novels are set during the 19 and 20-centuries.

Why

These works may be of interest to AU students who would like to learn more about the often difficult socio-economic conditions of people living in the 19 and 20 centuries near the end of the British and Russian empires.  In addition, these novels may appeal to readers who would like to become familiar with several notable works in the Western cannon, as well as the lesser-known works of these major authors.

How

AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth.  Courses related to the socio-economic condition in literature are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works.  (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)

AU students interested in this topic may consider enrolling in ENGL 395: The Nineteenth-Century English Novel, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces the student to some of the major English novels of the nineteenth century.”  (Please note that several prerequisites are required for this course, including ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays).

Students may also consider SOCI 381: The Rich and the Rest: The Sociology of Wealth, Power, and Inequality, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces students to one of the most important—and burning—issues of our time: the study of the causes, the conditions, and the consequences of inequality in human societies.”  (Although no prerequisites are required for this course, learners are encouraged to have completed SOCI 281: Introduction to Sociology I and SOCI 288: Introduction to Sociology II —Social Movements).  Happy reading!