The History of World Literature

By: Grant L. Voth, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Grant L. Voth

Whether around the campfire, between the covers of a great book, or in the theater, the desire to tell stories has been a common human impulse for thousands of years. These 48 lectures take you on a journey through time and around the world- from the enormous auditoriums of ancient Greece to a quiet study in the home of a 19th-century New England spinster- to introduce the history of world literature.

In this course, you'll sample some of the greatest literary expressions the world has known and experience storytelling in its many forms, including poetry, drama, and narrative. You'll explore: the ancient world, where tribal bards created national myths and founded religious texts out of legends, history, philosophy, and local lore; the countryside and aristocratic courts of India and the Middle East, collecting stories and folklore of magical men, terrifying beasts, alluring women, and conniving tricksters that live on in today's fairy tales and bedtime stories; the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment to trace the evolution of storytelling from the poetic masterpiece of Dante's Inferno to the great drama pioneered by Shakespeare to sophisticated narratives such as Wu Ch'eng-en's Monkey and Voltaire's Candide; and the rise of Realism in the works of Flaubert, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov and the development of experimental modes by Brecht, Beckett, and Borges.

Offering concise summaries and thought-provoking interpretations of some of the world's greatest literary masterpieces, this course gives you the tools you need to appreciate these great literary works and understand how authors, playwrights, and poets throughout the centuries have practiced their craft.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2007 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2007 The Great Courses

Nice

The History of world literature audiobook from the Great Courses is a wonderful introduction to so many timeless perceptions. The literatures are summarized, and it is a casual easy listen. You can pick up where you left off with ease. It leaves you tantalized ready to look further into your favorites.

So interesting

What made the experience of listening to The History of World Literature the most enjoyable?

I know this is really long, but if you have the time to invest, it's a great overview spanning all history. This professor is excellent!!!

Transformative

These lectures are very rich in content but incredibly easy to absorb. Voth is definitely one of the best that the Teaching Company has to offer.

Most Excellent!

I loved every second of this class. I have read many of the books, have now been introduced to other authors that I didn't' know existed, but can't wait to read. I have never heard such an excellent "reading" of many of these artists. I THANK YOU for these tapes. I will be back to listen to your "Joyce" class.

Truly Excellent

Selections covered top notch & shared with such unmistakable love of subject that this lecture became completely compelling

TBR and Reread List

Refreshing review of college classes with a much needed update to that decades-old knowledge

Holy moly

What a ride!! Thank you for putting together an incredible course. With an easy to follow text guide, the professor shares insights in clear language that allows the essence of the lecture to be understood.

Amazing storyteller the best I have yet to hear.

Amazing storyteller the best I have yet to hear. The speaker is very engaging, explaining perfectly how stories tie into each other and and how the author thought in writing their work.

Wonderful story telling!

What made the experience of listening to The History of World Literature the most enjoyable?

the instructor shows sincere interest, passion in the subject, and that makes listening fun

What was one of the most memorable moments of The History of World Literature?

It's an amazing epiphany : realizing how similar/varied cultures in different corners of the world think in the same period!

Have you listened to any of Professor Grant L. Voth’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Any additional comments?

Would be great if a list of the readings mentioned in the course is provided here.

Wonderful!

This is possibly the best Great Course that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. It’s been such a long time since freshman year lit class, and some of the works covered hadn’t been thought of since then. This course was a wonderful reminder of the power of stories, and more personally, why I chose to be a librarian. The professor is wonderful and knowledgeable about all of these works and truly conveys his love of the stories. There are a number that I’ve already downloaded on my Nook to start reading right away. If books and literature are an interest of yours, this class is a must. Even if you’ve read some or most of the works covered, the professor’s perspective is worth the listen. Can’t recommend this highly enough.