Great works of literature resonate across generations—as well as ethnic, racial and national identities. These works express universal timeless human values, regardless of the reader’s background. We explore five short novels, some of which may be quite familiar, while some may be new to us. All express the yearnings and aspirations of the human spirit, often in the face of challenges and adversity. In addition to the novels, we discuss a book of essays, containing literary and musical references—not a novel per se, but an American classic, and a rich and rewarding work in the literature of black protest.

All these works should be available online, through libraries and discount book sellers. Reading is not required; however, it will enhance your experience.

• Weeks 1 & 2: Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; (1818)
• Weeks 3 & 4: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce (1904, 1914)
• Week 5: Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska (1925)
• Weeks 6 & 7: The Souls of Black Folk, by W.E.B. Du Bois (1903)
• Week 8: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1905)