Cost and Registration Information

Early Registration Price (January 8 at 9 am** – January 25 at 4 pm): $210
Regular Registration Price (January 25 at 4 pm – first day of class): $231

** Registration opens online at 9 am. Phone registration will be accepted starting at 10 am.

Members, seniors, and students get a 10% discount.

Online registration is closed, but you can still register by phone. Please call (312) 255-3700 to do so.

Seminar Description

In this course, we will read four contemporary novels of significant literary merit: Jane Gardam’s Old Filth; William Maxwell’s So Long See You Tomorrow; Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach; and Michael Cunningham’s The Hours. We will consider how each novel exquisitely captures the complexity of relationships in our time. In addition, we will explore the authors’ varied backgrounds, their different styles, and the moral questions they raise. Finally, we will view online author interviews and/or readings of their works.
Six sessions. E - $210, L - $231

Linda Levine holds an MA in English education from Northwestern University. She has taught English and humanities for several decades, including previous seminars at the Newberry.

Materials List

Required:

• Jane Gardham, Old Filth, Europa Editions, 2006. ISBN: 978-1933372136
• William Maxwell, So Long, See You Tomorrow, Vintage, 1996. ISBN: 978-0679767206
• Michael Cunningham, The Hours, Picador, 2000. ISBN: 978-0312243029
• Ian McEwan, On Chesil Beach, Anchor, 2008. ISBN: 978-0312243029

First Reading:

• For the first class, please read pp. 1-128 of Old Filth (through the chapter "School.").

This class is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about our registration procedures.