The literature of california
California is a vision, a promise, a battleground of dreams. In Californian Literature, myth and reality collide in stories of aspiration, exploitation, reinvention and rebellion.
This class invites students to explore a complex literary landscape - from the rich human dramas of John Steinbeck to the polyphonic voices of Indigenous, Latino, Black and Asian California - encompassing settings from the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles to the pastoral dystopia of the Central Valley and the countercultural fervor of the Bay.
Through a series of engaging novels and in class discussion, we’ll discover how California’s literature provokes enduring questions about identity and belonging. From a disputed past to an apocalyptic future, the Literature of California shapes our understanding of who we are, where we come from - and where we are going.
Download the 2026 Syllabus here.