The European Novella (Level 5)
Course dates: Tuesday 12 January - Tuesday 23 March 2027
Class timetable: 10 sessions (View class timetable for Tuesday 12 January 2027 to Tuesday 23 March 2027)
Timetable data for Tuesday 12 January 2027 to Tuesday 23 March 2027
| Day of class | Date of class | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12-Jan-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 19-Jan-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 26-Jan-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 02-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 09-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 23-Feb-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 02-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 09-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 16-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Tuesday | 23-Mar-2027 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
Location: Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Fees: £1615.00
RegisterCourse Overview
Join us on this short course on the European novella as we explore one of the most influential genres in European literature. We will trace the evolving significance of the form through a selection of texts that demonstrate how tightly structured narratives and focused thematic development can convey powerful ethical concerns.
Drawing on a range of theoretical and methodological approaches, you will engage with works by some of Europe’s most prominent writers, examining how the novella reflects and responds to the political and cultural contexts of different periods and regions. These include:
- Adalbert Stifter, Brigitta, 1847
- Theodor Storm, The Rider on the White Horse, 1888 (also translated as The Dykemaster)
- Thomas Mann, Mario and the Magician, 1930
- Stefan Zweig, Chess, 1942
- Abbé Prévost, The Greek Girl’s Story, 1740
- Prosper Mérimée, The Venus of Ille, 1837
- Simone de Beauvoir, Monologue, 1967
- Natalia Ginzburg The Dry Heart, 1947
- Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities, 1972
Assessment is via a 2000-word essay (50%) and two-hour in-class test (50%)
This can be taken as a standalone short course or as part of:
Fees
Students are charged a tuition fee for each short course on registering. Please view details for this course, including dates, location and fees at the top of this page. Short course fees may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.
Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee
If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.
Entry Requirements
Most of our short courses have no formal entry requirements and are open to all students.
This short course has no prerequisites.
As part of the registration process, you may be required to submit a copy of a suitable form of ID.
International students who wish to come to the UK to study a short course can apply for a Visitor visa. Please note that it is not possible to obtain a Student visa to study a short course.
How to Register
You register directly onto the classes you would like to take. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis - so register early.
If you want to take more than one short course, you can select each one separately and then register onto them together via our online application portal. There is usually no formal selection process, although some modules may have prerequisites and/or other requirements, which will be specified where relevant.