Coming to England

“Coming to England” is a seminar in which we will look at how post Second World War migration has transformed Britain into the most multiracial and multicultural country in Europe. We will look primarily at literary texts, but also factor in questions of history and the socio-political developments that have led to Britain’s present-day cultural plurality.

Students will have the opportunity to work in the Paul Mellon Centre but will also visit locations relevant to the various books they will study, as well as meeting the authors of some of the books under consideration.

In the second half of the course we will make a two-day trip to Leeds where the work of the David Oluwale Memorial Association will allow us to consider literary responses to the life and death of an iconic migrant in twentieth-century British history. The trip will include a walking tour of the city, film presentations, a creative writing workshop and the chance to meet literary activists in the field of migration.