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“Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” With these words Samuel Johnson paradigmatically articulates a distinctly 18th-century notion of London as the key site of social intercourse, of human experience — of life. In cooperation with the London seminars of Professors Kilian and Keller, this seminar will offer and prepare for an excursion to London in the second half of February 2011. More specifically, this seminar aims at studying literary representations of London and its lives against the backdrop of political, social and cultural changes during the 18th century. Apart from literary representations of London topography, we shall study topics as varied as London’s coffee-house culture, sociability, commerce, the professionalisation of literature (“Grub Street”), public places, theatre and actors, crime, social unrest etc. Note: We will hold a preliminary meeting to discuss the excursion (including dates, credit points, alternative options for those you cannot take part, etc.) October 26, 6 p.m., room DOR 24,1.501. Primary reading: Jonathan Swift: “Description of the Morning”; “Description of a City Shower” John Gay: “Trivia; or, the Art of Walking the Streets of London” Joseph Addison: The Spectator (selections) Boswell: London Journal Frances Burney: Evelina (please obtain your own paperback copy) William Blake: “London” A reader with primary and secondary reading will be available by the beginning of term. |
