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By charting cultural history through literature, this seminar seeks to explore how far a single unifying aspect – the railway – can take us.
Since the first locomotives were put on tracks, the railway has undergone tremendous changes in terms of cultural perception. The steam-powered trains of the 19th century radically altered the lives of many as they pushed and pulled towards modernity. Yet over the course of two centuries, these unstoppable agents of industrialisation have morphed into symbols of sustainability – what might have been condemned by romantics has become a welcome alternative to environmental destruction. This is just one of many ambiguities that surround this mode of transport.
Using the railway as our focal point, our investigation will thus cover a wide range of topics: We will discuss issues of mobility, examine historical developments, and explore the cultural impact of technology. We will do so by delving into a variety of texts that feature trains: From a Dickensian ghost story, via Agatha Christie’s great detective novel, towards the works of contemporary science-fiction authors like China Miéville. Students are invited to come aboard for a journey through literary history and across an assorted selection of periods and genres.
[A list of texts will be provided at the beginning of the seminar.]
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