Life-Changing Short Stories

In this course we will read and discuss four great works of short fiction from four very different corners of the world: India, Russia, the United States, and Ancient Greece. While not limited to the genre of fiction for young adults, each story’s focus on themes of intergenerational education and childlike wonder makes the selection particularly relevant for young people entering adulthood. But don’t count on simply a dry, academic analysis of literature: there will also be plenty of violence, heartbreak, humor, and controversy for us to take pleasure in and be shocked by in our discussions. Who knows, by talking it out we may even end up learning something about our place in the world.

We will meet on one of the most beautiful campuses in America — St. John's College at the footsteps of the Atalaya mountain.