After I'd already selected this Great Course, I found out the names of the books and authors. I am absolutely delighted with the selections. There are three professors, not just one (as is the usual habit of this company). I think that will give me the opportunity to see different viewpoints.
The first short story was by Franz Kafka, "A Country Doctor." Only about 5 pages in length, Kafka shows his mind-bending skills adroitly. As I've listened to each of Dr. Weinstein's lectures, I've been fascinated by the way he shares ideas that hadn't come to me while reading various pieces. I have never liked Faulkner, but I'm going to read the short story the professor mentioned in one lecture ("Pantaloon in Black").
Dr. Emily Allen really got my attention with LADY SUSAN. I've read and enjoyed, Jane Austen's six published novels but hadn't really considered this novella. However, Dr. Allen certainly piqued my interest in this short work. Her analyses of Jekyll/Hyde and Dorian Gray were delightful for very different reasons. I particularly enjoyed listening to her thoughts about each of her 12 books. Dr. Allen's investigations were wonderful; I enjoyed her lectures immensely.
I've loved everything I've read by Willa Cather; Dr. Voth opened my eyes to Cather's first published work, ALEXANDER'S BRIDGE. He tied it back to Stevenson's THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (studied in Lesson 18). Cather reworked that story with her own emphasis; the analysis was absolutely amazing.
Dr. Voth's analysis of BILLY BUDD bordered on profound; I've grappled with that story for years. The way Dr. Voth moved back and forth between Capt. Vere's responsibilities and Billy Budd's rights -- brought the novella's tragic ending to a powerful crescendo.
This was a delicious smorgasbord of short stories and novellas combined with intelligent and deep analysis of characters, plot, settings, and so much more. These lectures were wonderful; I learned so much.
The first short story was by Franz Kafka, "A Country Doctor." Only about 5 pages in length, Kafka shows his mind-bending skills adroitly. As I've listened to each of Dr. Weinstein's lectures, I've been fascinated by the way he shares ideas that hadn't come to me while reading various pieces. I have never liked Faulkner, but I'm going to read the short story the professor mentioned in one lecture ("Pantaloon in Black").
Dr. Emily Allen really got my attention with LADY SUSAN. I've read and enjoyed, Jane Austen's six published novels but hadn't really considered this novella. However, Dr. Allen certainly piqued my interest in this short work. Her analyses of Jekyll/Hyde and Dorian Gray were delightful for very different reasons. I particularly enjoyed listening to her thoughts about each of her 12 books. Dr. Allen's investigations were wonderful; I enjoyed her lectures immensely.
I've loved everything I've read by Willa Cather; Dr. Voth opened my eyes to Cather's first published work, ALEXANDER'S BRIDGE. He tied it back to Stevenson's THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (studied in Lesson 18). Cather reworked that story with her own emphasis; the analysis was absolutely amazing.
Dr. Voth's analysis of BILLY BUDD bordered on profound; I've grappled with that story for years. The way Dr. Voth moved back and forth between Capt. Vere's responsibilities and Billy Budd's rights -- brought the novella's tragic ending to a powerful crescendo.
This was a delicious smorgasbord of short stories and novellas combined with intelligent and deep analysis of characters, plot, settings, and so much more. These lectures were wonderful; I learned so much.
