The last words of the legendary nineteenth-century British actor, Edmund Kean, were reportedly, “Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” This seminar will aim to have fun exploring, and celebrating, three quite different British authors – P.G. Wodehouse, Kingsley Amis, and Helen Fielding – whose goal (perhaps among other things) was to make the reader laugh. Discussion may touch on elements of comedy, such as satire, farce, and verbal wit; tools of narrative, including plotting, character, dialogue, and voice, as well as historical/political context and social setting. The goal will be to have a look at how these novels work and why they succeed (or fail), without plucking out the heart of their respective mysteries.
No publications will be needed other than the books themselves. Hard copy, Kindle, and audio versions may be used.
Topics for presentations might include: a biography of an author, social and historical context of a book, other books by the same author, comparison of a book to its film version, other similar or different comic novels from Britain or elsewhere, or theories of comedy. Other topics conceived by a participant are welcome.
Morning seminars run from 9:30 am – 11:30 am.
