Facts, Counterfactualisms, and the Historical Novel
CHUM 350
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
ENGL 330 |
The aim of this course is to explore "the fact" as the site of contradictory desires and investments in nineteenth-century fiction. Charting two paths through both foundational examples of historical novel and through early counterfactual work (Uchronie, Aristopia: A Romance History of the New World), this course will trace the versions of historical thinking made possible within these traditions. As part of the course, we will explore some of the ephemera materials novelist's working notebooks, research sources, and unpublished manuscripts. Seminar work will include both theoretical readings on historical fiction, philosophy of history, and critical archival studies. We will read novels and narrative fiction from the Brontë siblings, George Eliot, Walter Scott, Maria Edgeworth, Charles Renouvier, and Thomas Hardy, alongside critical work by Georg Lukács, Catherine Gallager, Roland Barthes, Frederic Jameson, Michel Foucault, Saidiya Hartman, Hayden White, Dipesh Chakrabartky, Paul Ricouer, Carolyn Steedman, Natalie Zemon Davis, Kumkum Sangari, Elaine Freedgood, and Michel-Rolph Trouillot. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (English) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
We will read novels and narrative fiction from the Brontë siblings, George Eliot, Walter Scott, Maria Edgeworth, Charles Renouvier, and Thomas Hardy, alongside critical work by Georg Lukács, Catherine Gallager, Roland Barthes, Frederic Jameson, Michel Foucault, Saidiya Hartman, Hayden White, Dipesh Chakrabartky, Paul Ricouer, Carolyn Steedman, Natalie Zemon Davis, Kumkum Sangari, Elaine Freedgood, and Michel-Rolph Trouillot.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Two essays and one longer final paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
: This course fulfills the Literary History II and British Literature requirements for the English major |
| Instructor(s): Eckert,Sierra Times: ...W... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 1 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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