2666

The novel 2666 has been regarded as the first classic of world literature in the 21st century. At the end of this course, you will have read and studied this work in its entirety. Close to 1000 pages long, Roberto Bolaño's opus is both daunting and eminently readable¿a feast for serious readers and aspiring writers. It is a dark thriller that spans several continents, with memorable characters and unsuspected plot twists throughout. Similar to Anna Karenina or One Hundred Years of Solitude in ambition, it explores the limits of the sayable, and of the novel form. Its protagonists include vivacious young people, a lost German author, an African-American journalist in Mexico, gallivanting academics, and bodily remains. Some of its topics include literary fame and influence, exile, Cartel violence, and the legacies of World War II. Take this course if you would like to gain solid training in the art of close reading, take your Spanish to the next level, immerse yourself in deep learning, familiarize yourself with current events in Latin America, and participate in a dedicated book salon. The reading pace is very moderate (20 pages every weekday), which allows for careful consideration and readerly enjoyment. The analytical skills you gain in this seminar are also highly portable: they will serve you well in all of your future scholarly pursuits. The course combines small seminar discussion¿a staple of humanities education¿with an approximation to a fresh, contemporary text. You will present on a small section of the book, write short response papers, and engage in various creative activities. Guest speakers and archival work will complement our regular activities.