ENG 4310 - English Literature in Paris

Introduction

nterwar Paris played host to a large
cohort of Anglophone authors, drawn to
the city’s thriving cultural scene, lenient
censorship laws, and affordable prices. As
a result, some of the foundational works
of twentieth-century English literature
were written and published in Paris.
Forged in the deeply traumatic and
intensely creative atmosphere between
two world wars, these works staged a
profound reimagining of literature. Their
innovations were stylistic, exploring
confessional and autobiographical forms
of expression, but also thematic,
questioning and dissecting fundamental
concepts such as the individual, society,
and gender.
In this course, we will approach the English literature of interwar Paris via a close reading of
excerpts, focusing on the work of four celebrated and notorious writers: Ernest Hemingway,
Gertrude Stein, Henry Miller, and Anaïs Nin. We will assess each work’s style and themes,
analyze the relationship between the individual works, embed the works and authors in
their historical context, and explore their relationship to the city of Paris.