Notes on May Term in the Lake District

Here are the details for Bob's May Term in the Lake District, straight from the source:

May Term 2009: Writers Colony (RHE-335): Walking in England's Lake District

This course involves a 26-day trip to England, departing on Tuesday, May 12 and returning to the U.S.A. on Sunday, June 7. The group will fly to London and stay for three nights at a London hotel. This portion of our schedule combines opportunities for tourist-type stuff (visiting the Tower of London or seeing a West End musical) with academic work relevant to the course (studying 18th- and 19th-century English landscape painting at the Tate and National art galleries). On Saturday, May 16, we travel by coach to Grasmere in the Lake District and stay for two weeks at an estate on the edge of Lake Grasmere. The property–Dale End Farm--is a renovated 17th-century farmhouse and barn; further information about this facility is available at the property manager’s web site (http://www.wheelwrights.com/). After staying at this farm for two weeks, we hike over an intervening hillside and spend a third week in two cottages in the village of Chapel Stile, located on the edge of the Langdales. We return to London on Saturday, June 6, and fly back to the U.S.A. on Sunday, June 7. Our course readings and research will focus on how the Lake District was first described and celebrated by William Wordsworth and other 19th century poets, artists, and travel writers. The class assignments include daily walks (rain or shine) in this remarkable countryside. The writing assignments invite students to explore the Lake District and consider how their perceptions compare with those of previous residents and travelers. The course can count toward a major in Writing or Creative Writing.

The program cost for the course will be $2,175. This fee covers costs for housing, most meals, airline and coach transportation, and fees to museums and art galleries. During the three weeks in Grasmere and Chapel Stile, participants will be responsible for preparing their own meals. Students should plan on having available at least $400 during the trip to cover incidental food, travel, and entertainment expenses. Course enrollment: maximum of eight students.

 

The application should include year in school, academic major, and a one-page statement explaining the reasons for wishing to enroll in the Writers Colony course. E-mail applications are accepted.