The Melbourne Literature Seminars

Because of a schedule fire drill in Ross House, I’ve decided to cancel next week’s (10 February) Refectory session. We’ll resume as scheduled on 17 February.

Franz Kafka (1883-1924)

The Czech author Franz Kafka has become a byword for much that is uncomfortable and obscure in literary modernism.  His name is now a well-worn adjective used to describe works with a similar feel to Kafka’s excursions into the hinterlands of the modern psyche.  Few, however,  can match  Kafka’s clear, ringing prose (even in translation) and visionary intensity.  You won’t always know where you are, but the views are enthralling.

In six two-hour sessions, we will be reading and discussing a number of Kafka’s shorter stories and parables, which I will provide in a course reader.

Fridays, 5 February-11 March, 1-3pm, in Ross House first-floor room 1.3

What a real refectory looked like. I’m working on my tonsure . . .

The MLS Refectory series begins next week (27 January), at its usual day and hour, Wednesdays 1-2pm, though in the slightly more spacious surroundings of first-floor room 1.1 in Ross House.  Here’s a PDF of the menu for the first twelve weeks:  The MLS Refectory First Series 2016

For anyone who’s not been before, this is a casual lunch-hour discussion group.  You bring $10, and I bring a page of poetry (from modern authors this time around, though we’ve taken in older works previously and will do so again).  All welcome, no experience necessary.

Hi, everyone, and a very happy new year to you all.  Here is a file containing the confirmed bookings for January-May of 2014.

Confirmed Timetable for 2016 Courses

There have been some changes. Ross house could not accommodate my long-course requests for The Canterbury Tales and The English Mystery Plays, so they’re going to have to wait for winter. But they will happen.

Beyond the short courses I’ve already described in earlier posts (see below) on Kafka and Wallace Stevens, plus the MLS Refectory and part four of the Old English course, I’ve added a six-week course on the Visionary Imagination. It will comprise stories and poetry from mainly modern (i.e. post-18th-century) authors and will explore how different authors have used language to peer over the horizons of everyday experience. I might scan a couple of my sci-fi faves into the mix–there’s no telling. I’ve taught similar courses before at Melbourne and ACU, where they went down a treat.

Since I’m producing readers for most of these courses, it would help if you could let me know what you’re interested in a few weeks before the course is due to begin. Old English and Refectory regulars needn’t bother, though it would always be nice to hear from you!.

I cannot wait to get started, and I’m really looking forward to seeing you all again.

Cheers,
Bob

p.s. I’ve done all I can with Ross House to finalise these arrangements, but there might be a minor tweak to schedules in one week or another. I’ll post any changes, though I’m not expecting any at this stage.

I’m no graphic artist, but I’ve been having fun messing about with title-page formats for my first-draft-complete Beowulf book.  And, finally, a title that does the job for me.  Link to PDF mockup below.

Title Page mk IV

I’m undertaking my first public lecture, for my friends at the Melbourne Free University, with an improvised fugue on our media-driven notions of the heroic versus one version of the real deal I happen to have been working with closely over the past few years.

Free admission in a nice pub.  All most welcome.

Just to let you know, my recovery continues to leap from strength to strength.  Got some advanced phsyio/rehab to get through starting today, but I feel strong as an ox most mornings.  The trick will be to make that last all day!  I’m actually nearing the end of writing the first draft of my Beowulf-book, a very exciting prospect for me.  I’m also laying plans to get my MLS courses and the Refectory lunch-time poetry sessions up and running in the new year.  Expect Refectory sessions to start up again in January, and 6- and 12-week courses to begin running from late January and early February.  Thanks so much for your continued patience.  I can’t wait to get started again.  One thing, however, at a time!  Cheers.

I’m just home from hospital, where my op has exceeded expectations, and my recovery looks sets to break records too. Thank you all SO much for all your good will and support. I can’t wait to join you in Ross House again, but I’ll just need to make sure I pace myself properly.  I will probably not resume any teaching till January/February. I’ll get my book written, and then what fun we’ll all have!

Will talk again soon. Till then, be well and thanks so much again.

Warm regards,
Bob