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
In this week’s column, we continue with our focus on popular authors with a brief introduction to F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, F. Scott Fitzgerald was a “short-story writer and novelist famous for his depictions of the Jazz Age (the 1920s).”
What
Examples of notable works by F. Scott Fitzgerald include The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender is the Night.
Other works include The Beautiful and The Damned and Winter Dreams.
Where
Many of these works are set throughout the eastern coast of the United States.
When
These novels are set through the twentieth century.
Why
Scott Fitzgerald’s novels may be of interest to AU students who would like to read more about themes of love, ambition, and class. In addition, this author can serve as a broader introduction to the Western literary cannon, including early United States literature.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to F. Scott Fitzgerald are available in a variety of disciplines, including ones 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 learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 344: American Literature I, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces students to American literature, its history and development, and its rich variety of forms and techniques.” (Please note that this course requires several prerequisites, including ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays).
Students may also be interested in ENGL 345: American Literature II, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “continues the exploration of the history and development of American literature and its rich variety of forms and techniques.” (Again, students should note that this course requires ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays, as prerequisites). Happy reading!
