In this seminar, which is going to centre on Victorian fantasy, fairies (goblins, of course, too), and nonsense, we will read and discuss fiction by H. G. Wells (The Island of Dr Moreau, 1896), George MacDonald (Phantastes: A Fairie Romance, 1858), and Lewis Carroll (Through the Looking-Glass, 1871); poetry by Christina Rossetti (Goblin Market, 1862) and Edward Lear; and a few shorter texts. While looking at theories of the fantastic and of nonsense we will also consider issues as diverse as science and responsibility, gender roles, readerships, illustrations, fantastic journeys and spaces, magical and non-magical objects.

Please make sure that you obtain copies of two major texts, ideally the following editions:
Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, ed. Peter Hunt (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), Oxford World’s Classics.
H. G. Wells, The Island of Dr Moreau, ed. Darryll Jones (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017), Oxford World’s Classics.

The other texts will be made available via Blackboard (links, scans, electronic editions accessible through the university library). Regular and active participation are necessary. You will also be expected to join a group presentation.

This course takes the form of a block seminar spread out over four days: 11 May, 24 May, 25 May, 8 June 2024, from 9:00 to 16:00.

Please register on Campus Management AND send me an email in April once you have received confirmation of your place in the course. You will receive further material in the second half of April.