The last turn of the century in Europe, 1890 – 1914, was an extraordinary era. Wave after wave of experimentation swept the arts creating the radically new art called “Modernism;” a technological revolution produced the airplane, the automobile, electric lights and the movies. Europeans faced a whole range of new ideas, ranging from feminism to socialism to psychoanalysis, all the while moving toward the Great War. It was a wonderful and very strange time, and among the oddest figures, real or imagined, were Jack the Ripper, Jekyll and Hyde, and Sherlock Holmes. This course – to be taught in London! – will investigate Europe’s, and Britain’s, 1890-1914 turn of the century by focusing especially (though not exclusively) on these characters. Studying in London, students will be able to pursue research projects by using London’s extraordinary resources to visit Jack the Ripper’s haunts, Sherlock Holmes’ Baker Street, to track down Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and to explore a host of other political and cultural themes associated with Late Victorian and Edwardian London.

Students will receive 3 hours of HIST credit.

There is no Spring prep class for this program. All credit will be earned through on-site learning.

This program will take place for three weeks in June.

This is an OPEN program.