Modern scholars write of the “making of Europe” and trace its long history, even if the Europeans they describe did not know they were European.  In the recent centuries, it has become a real thing, a thing of debate.  We will focus on the latter, but the lectures will range more broadly.  We will discuss tensions around the creation, loss, re-creation, fragmentation of the idea and the thing in the modern period, since the beginning of the modernperiod.  Class readings will be novels from the period.  The list looks long, but it isn’t.  Only six novels.  Three are long, and masterpieces, but two of them are unfinished and will be treated as such.  The rest are short—also masterpieces.  Large portions of our discussions will focus on the use of the “European Question” as material and structure for these six classic novels.

Half of the grade is reflected in showing up (attendance will be noted—of course you will be excused for good reasons, just tell me) and participating.  Participation means, in large part, identifying and preparing daily passages you wish to comment on, bring to the attention of the class and the instructor, ask for help from all of us in interpretation, etc.  I will call on each of you during each session.  Nothing stressful; most people enjoy it.  The entire class certainly does.

The midterm, a 5-page paper, will be a preparation for the final paper (15- to 20-page).  In them you will choose a people/land/nation and trace and interpret its relationship to the idea/thing called “Europe.”

Please use only the editions (translations) I have indicated by their ISBN numbers.

Required Readings

Mann, Thomas.  The Magic Mountain.  Transl. John E. Woods.  Vintage Press.  ·  ISBN-10: 0679772871 ·  ISBN-13: 978-0679772873

Musil, Robert.  The Man Without Qualities.  Vol. 1.  A Sort of Introduction and Pseudo Reality Prevails.  Transl.  Sophie Wilkins.  Vintage Press.  ·  ISBN-10: 0679767878 ·  ISBN-13: 978-0679767879

Roth, Joseph.  The Emperor’s Tomb.  Transl. John Hoare.  The Overlook Press.  ·  ISBN-10: 1585673277 ·  ISBN-13: 978-1585673278

Hasek, Jaroslav.  The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War.  Transl.  Cecil Parrott.  Penguin Press.  ·  ISBN-10: 0140449914 ·  ISBN-13: 978-0140449914

Konwicki, Tadeusz.  A Minor Apocalypse.  Transl. Richard Lourie.  Dalkey Archive Press.  ·  ISBN-10: 1564782174 ·  ISBN-13: 978-1564782175

Ruge, Eugen.  In Times of Fading Light.  Transl. Anthea Bell.Graywolf Press.  ·  ISBN-10: 1555976794 ·  ISBN-13: 978-1555976798