These only represent a portion of Eggers' body of work. His publications include screenplays, pseudonymous volumes of humor, children's books, comic strips, issues of Might and McSweeney's, and numerous appearances online and in print as a writer, co-author, or editor. While the readings below include some links to these additional publications -- as well as related articles and interviews -- our seminar's blog will contain additional links that give an even greater panorama of his work.
Course Reading Schedule
M 3/28: Seminar introduction
Y
We'll begin the course with a brief reading aloud from Dave Eggers' most recent novel, an often interrogative work written in dialogue. We will accordingly be starting the course with a series of prompts about your own work as a writer, and how you approach a body of literature -- both by other authors, and your own.
W 3/30: Tristram Shandy (1759)
Book I, chapters i xii
Book III, chaptersxiii
Book III,chapters xxxvi
Book V, chaptersi ii
Book VI, chaptersxxxvi xl
Book VII,chapters
Book IX, chapters xiv - xxi (562-568)
Book III, chapters
Book III,
Book V, chapters
Book VI, chapters
Book VII,
Book IX, chapters xiv - xxi (562-568)
M 4/4: The Art of Fiction
Kurt Vonnegut -- "The Art of Fiction, No. 64" (Paris Review interview, 1977)
Joan Didion -- "The Art of Fiction, No. 71" (Paris Review interview, 1978)
Lorrie Moore -- "How to Become a Writer" (1985)
Tom Wolfe -- "The Art of Fiction, No. 123" (Paris Review interview, 1991)
Kurt Vonnegut -- "The Art of Fiction, No. 64" (Paris Review interview, 1977)
Joan Didion -- "The Art of Fiction, No. 71" (Paris Review interview, 1978)
Lorrie Moore -- "How to Become a Writer" (1985)
Tom Wolfe -- "The Art of Fiction, No. 123" (Paris Review interview, 1991)
Charlie Rose Interview Panel: Jonathan Franzen, David Foster Wallace, Mark Leyner (1996)
W 4/6: The Art of McSweeney's (2010)
We'll be referring to this volume at various points throughout the quarter, but pages 1 - 45 will serve as an introduction to the publication's aesthetics, and as a context for Issue 4.
M 4/11: McSweeney's (Issue 4, 2000)
W 4/6: The Art of McSweeney's (2010)
We'll be referring to this volume at various points throughout the quarter, but pages 1 - 45 will serve as an introduction to the publication's aesthetics, and as a context for Issue 4.
M 4/11: McSweeney's (Issue 4, 2000)
McSweeney's I.T.: "If You Are Writing About McSweeney's" (1999)
McSweeney's I.T.: "To Submit: Some Guidelines" (1999)
McSweeney's I.T.: "To Submit: Some Guidelines" (1999)
W 4/13: McSweeney's (Issue 4, 2000)
(Plus some in-class perusal of other assorted issues)
(Plus some in-class perusal of other assorted issues)
Eye Magazine: "The Little Journal That Grew Big" by Lance Knobel (2010)
M 4/18: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (2000)
W 4/20: You Shall Know Our Velocity! (2002 & 2003)
Excerpt from the 2002 edition
New Yorker Interview: "Around the World in a Week" (2002)
M 4/25: How We Are Hungry (2004)
"Another
"Climbing to the Window, Pretending to Dance" (57 - 82)
"Notes for a Story of a Man Who Will Not Die Alone" (127 - 138)
"After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned" (205 - 218)
The Guardian: "Accident" (2005)
The Onion :
The Art of McSweeney's (152-153)
W 4/27: "It Was Just Boys Walking" (2004)
Handout from The Believer.
The Art of McSweeney's (118-131)
M 5/2: Surviving Justice (2005)
Pages 1-80, 447-448
Salon: "Dave Eggers on Working for Social Justice Through Oral History" (2015)
W 5/4: What Is The What (2006)
Pages 1 - 87
The Guardian: "It Was Just Boys Walking" (2007)
M 5/9: What Is The What
Pages 88 - 160
Smith Magazine: Interview with Valentino Achek Deng (2009)
Student paper conferences today -- no class meeting.
W 5/11: What is The What
Pages 161 - 227
The Art of McSweeney's (206-209)
M 5/16: Zeitoun (2009)
Excerpt from Chapter 1
Additional Excerpt
The Art of McSweeney's (254-255)
W 5/18: A Hologram For the King (2012)
Read to p. 99
The Rumpus: Interview with Dave Eggers
M 5/23: A Hologram For the King
Read 101 - 203
W 5/25: A Hologram For the King
Read to the end.
Author reading & interview will be tonight, 7 pm @ Lincoln Hall
M 5/30: The Circle (2013)
Memorial Day -- no class meeting today.
Excerpt: "We Like You So Much and Want to Know You Better"
The Wall Street Journal: "Dave Eggers, Unplugged"
New Yorker Interview: "Around the World in a Week" (2002)
M 4/25: How We Are Hungry (2004)
"
"Climbing to the Window, Pretending to Dance" (57 - 82)
"Notes for a Story of a Man Who Will Not Die Alone" (127 - 138)
"After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned" (205 - 218)
The Guardian: "Accident" (2005)
The Onion
The Art of McSweeney's (152-153)
W 4/27: "It Was Just Boys Walking" (2004)
Handout from The Believer.
The Art of McSweeney's (118-131)
M 5/2: Surviving Justice (2005)
Pages 1-80, 447-448
Salon: "Dave Eggers on Working for Social Justice Through Oral History" (2015)
W 5/4: What Is The What (2006)
Pages 1 - 87
The Guardian: "It Was Just Boys Walking" (2007)
M 5/9: What Is The What
Pages 88 - 160
Smith Magazine: Interview with Valentino Achek Deng (2009)
Student paper conferences today -- no class meeting.
W 5/11: What is The What
Pages 161 - 227
The Art of McSweeney's (206-209)
M 5/16: Zeitoun (2009)
Excerpt from Chapter 1
Additional Excerpt
The Art of McSweeney's (254-255)
W 5/18: A Hologram For the King (2012)
Read to p. 99
The Rumpus: Interview with Dave Eggers
M 5/23: A Hologram For the King
Read 101 - 203
W 5/25: A Hologram For the King
Read to the end.
Author reading & interview will be tonight, 7 pm @ Lincoln Hall
M 5/30: The Circle (2013)
Memorial Day -- no class meeting today.
Excerpt: "We Like You So Much and Want to Know You Better"
The Wall Street Journal: "Dave Eggers, Unplugged"
W 6/1: Seminar conclusion
The New Yorker: "The Actual Hollister" (2015)
There will be brief final paper conferences today during the second half of class.
