This seminar approaches letter-writing as a key genre for constructing and communicating a self. Roman letters allowed correspondents great flexibility in what to reveal to others and to themselves, what kind of relationships to build, and how to sustain their bonds over time and distance. Transformed by new understandings of the self and new technologies, the letter evolved over the centuries as a conduit for ideas, feelings, advice, and formal innovation, including the epistolary novel and verse epistle. Throughout the term, participants will engage in letter-writing practice alongside our authors and reflect on the future of epistolarity.
This is an application only course, the application deadline is Wednesday, April 8 and admissions decisions will be returned to the applicants before course enrollment begins on April 15.
