| This course will explore the evolution of the historical novel in Canada from the end of the nineteenth century to the present, discussing in particular the resurgence of interest in the genre in the last twenty years. As critic Jerome de Groot has noted in 2009, "the historical novel has always been an avenue for reflecting "on the state of contemporary politics". Although beggining with the representative romances that played a role in "nation-formation" in the post-Confederation period, the course will focus on more recent historical works by writers such as Atwood, Johnston, and Hill who explore the intersection of gender, class, politics and community in their representations of Canadian history. |
