ENGL7036 · English
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
What is at stake in reimagining history through fiction? In this course, we consider the development of historical fiction from the eighteenth century to the present. We will investigate important settings for historical novels, likely including: the Middle Ages as seen through Arthurian legend, the Jacobite uprisings in the Scottish Highlands, the French Revolution, and American slavery. Topics will include: the claims of realism and the powers of fantasy, the relationship of space to time, the rise of nationalism, and the power of fiction itself to shape history. Theories of genre, historicism, and historiography will guide our conversation.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.9 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.9 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.8 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.9 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
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hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
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Across time
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Spring 2025
1 section