Grit and Grace: American Fiction of the 1930s

This four-week course immerses students in the rich tapestry of American fiction during the 1930s, a decade shaped by the Great Depression, social upheaval, and literary innovation. We will explore three masterpieces—John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939), Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), and Josephine Winslow Johnson’s Now in November (1934)—to understand how these authors captured the struggles, dreams, and resilience of their time. These novels, all in print and widely available, offer distinct perspectives: Steinbeck’s sweeping social realism, Hurston’s vibrant celebration of vernacular and folkloric identity, and Johnson’s introspective portrayal of shattered lives. We will  examine themes of economic injustice, racial and gender identity, and human endurance, situating these works within the cultural and historical context of the 1930s.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0

You'll walk away with

• Analyze major works of 1930s American fiction, focusing on themes of economic injustice, race, gender, and resilience
• Understand the historical and cultural context of the Great Depression and its influence on literary expression
• Compare diverse narrative styles and perspectives to evaluate how authors conveyed the social and personal realities of the era

Ideal for

• Those with an interest in modern literature
• The curious and creative