“Before there were books, there were stories. At first the stories weren’t written down. Sometimes they were even sung. Children were born, and before they could speak, their parents sang them songs, a song about an egg that fell off a wall, perhaps, or about a boy and a girl who went up a hill and fell down it. As the children grew older, they asked for stories almost as often as they asked for food.

The children fell in love with these stories and wanted to hear them over and over again. Then they grew older and found those stories in books. And other stories that they had never heard before, about a girl who fell down a rabbit hole, or a silly old bear and an easily scared piglet and a gloomy donkey, or a phantom tollbooth, or a place where wild things were. The act of falling in love with stories awakened something in the children that would nourish them all their lives: their imagination.”

—Salman Rushdie, “Ask Yourself Which Books You Truly Love”, New York Times essay, 24 May 2021,

<www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/opinion/sunday/salman-rushdie-world-literature.html>

For more detailed information on each series or course, when offered, class times and locations, and course fees and registration) click on the appropriate links above.

If the course you are interested in is not currently being taught, rest assured that it will be again in the future as we continuously rotate the courses on offer. We also plan to add additional courses and locations in the future. Please contact us if you are interested in having us teach in your area or through your local group, association or organisation.

SOME NOTES ON OUR WORLD LITERATURE COURSES:

• All classes are taught from an objective point of view. These are classes about world literature, mythology and storytelling, designed for participants to get a greater understanding of the depth and scope of the diversity that exists within the world’s various cultural and belief traditions.
• Detailed Syllabi are available at the start of each Term.
• Any Term can be taken independently of the others, and there are no prerequisites for any of the Term courses.
• All classes encourage questions and group discussion. There are no assignments, required readings, quizzes, tests or exams.
• PDF copies of each class presentation are emailed to all participants the next day so that you are free to focus on class content rather than taking notes. You are most welcome to come, sit back, relax, take part in and enjoy the discussions!
• Course fees include a short tea/coffee/snack break in the middle of each session.
• There are no refunds for missed classes.
• Guests of registered participants are welcome to attend a single class at no charge.
• Certificates of Completion for any particular Term Course or Series are available for Professional Development purposes upon request at the end of each Term or Series.

• Term 1: begins the week on Mon 19 Feb, and ends Fri 12 Apr 2024
• Term 2: begins the week of Mon 6 May, and ends Fri 28 Jun 2024
• Term 3: begins the week of Mon 29 Jul, and ends Fri 20 Sep 2024
• Term 4: begins the week of Mon 21 Oct, and ends Fri 13 Dec 2024

LOCATION: All in-person classes are held at the EarthDiverse Centre located at 401 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton (located 3 shops north of the Hamilton Central Bus Station, First floor) (entrance is located on the left side of the building, see map below). Those looking for parking for our evening classes can park just in front of the building in any of the available car parks. Daytime parking can be found in our dedicated car parks, or free 2-hour on-street daytime parking can be found just in front on Anglesea Street.