The organizing theme of this fiction course is Humor or Humour: What Contemporary British Comedy Does that American Comedy Doesn't. The course covers topics from disrespect to members of the establishment and authority to the absurd to the lovable rogue to the British class system to tolerance of, and affection for, the eccentric, especially when allied to inventiveness, to the apocalypse. Each represents a type of humor appreciated by American readers but not necessarily understood. And each springs from the richness of the English language and its infinite capacity for word play. We will survey several classic novels and short stories from the early part of the 20th century through today with an emphasis on both the dark and light side of humor. We will also view several British comedy sketches and film versions of the fiction to compare the author's text with its visual representations.

The course objectives are for students to enjoy reading 20th and 21st century British fiction; for students to discuss what comedy is and what makes writing humorous; for students to form and express critical opinions and interpretations of British humor/fiction; for students to compare written versions of critical understanding of the various techniques of fiction, including realism, irony, and social criticism.