In this course we'll read novels by women capturing the special atmosphere, struggles and joys of particular times and places (the worlds of an African country fighting for independence, of women's friendships in 19th C China, of parents and children in contemporary Morocco; of family secrets in recent Haiti). We'll also look at the more interior worlds of obsessive love, and of women living on the social edge. Writers from the course come from Haiti, the U.S., Britain, Nigeria, France and Morocco.

Students can choose between writing two shorter or one longer paper, and everyone will give two presentations. There will be lots of discussion and no doubt differences of opinion, as well as the chance to hear one of the authors read in Seattle.

Our books are: The Dew Breaker, (Edwidge Danticat); Hotel World (Ali Smith); The Ravishing of Lol Stein, (Marguerite Duras); Secret Son, (Leila Lalami); Half the Yellow Sun, (Chimamanda Adichie); Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Lisa See).