Resource person: Pam Petrie

Description:

The Great War — now commonly known as World War I — left a profound and lasting impact on Western civilization. In this course, participants will grapple with T. S. Eliot’s complex and influential poem The Waste Land (1922), a landmark work of early modern literature. The course then turns to Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, first published in 1926 and now marking its centennial year. Through both works, we will examine the characters, themes, and cultural disillusionment that emerged in the postwar era, while considering how these texts helped shape modern literary expression. Note: This course includes discussion of bullfighting, which some participants may find disturbing.

Instructor: Steve Lane (Ph.D.) is a retired professor of English and academic administrator who spent most of his career at Vancouver Island University. His doctoral work was in the area of the English Romantics, but he also pursued research on Ernest Hemingway, delivering several papers at the International Hemingway Conference.

Mandatory membership(s):

• Volunteer Membership 2026-27
• Life Membership
• Individual Membership 2026-27

Available spots: 16 out of 16

Price: $44.00 Taxes not included

Prerequisites: The two mentioned works will be considered required reading in order to get the most out of the course. The instructor will distribute free versions ahead of the first class meeting.

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