Testimonials

What students have said about the English Literature course

(The Amazon links show some of the texts studied, in whole or in part, on the course)

This course has given me an excellent insight into the wonderful world of literature and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The entire support team have been extremely helpful and accomodating to any inquiries I have had along the way. The tutor gave me really helpful and full feedback on my exercises. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Pat Karlstad, Norway


This is a great course. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed books and poetry that I would otherwise never have read. The lessons and exercises helped me to think about and analyse the reading material. The tutor's feedback was always prompt, helpful and encouraging. I really feel I have learned a great deal and now know more about English literature than ever before. I woleheartedly recommend this course.Sarah Jones, Venezuela


I found this to be a very good course. It is a thorough journey through the history of English Literature with plenty of scope to explore your personal interests. This is a course for everybody, irrespective of previous knowledge of literature, because it fosters the need to build upon what is already known. The course materials are informative and highly readable, and there is a book-list for recommended further reading. I found the course a stimulating and challenging experience. Nick Ambler, Ryde, Isle of Wight


A million thanks for enabling me to complete the English Literature course from, say, Chaucer to the New Voices of today. Instead of a random dip, now I can say I have got a fairly good grasp of the entire gamut of English Literature, missing no literary milestone on the way. Thank you. Mr. George Nelson, Barrister-at-Law, Johor, Malaysia


I must say that I have enjoyed the course, and would recommend it to anyone. Although I did study English Literature at 'A' Level at school, I failed the exam rather miserably - I obviously didn't have the same interest in those days - and so I regard this course as having nicely filled in something of a gap. I have found your feedback both helpful and encouraging - anyone who claims they don't benefit from being complimented now and then is a fool, or a liar, or both - while your comments have been reassuringly authoritative without being oppressively highbrow. Thank you for your attention through the course. Paul Smith, Southport


I have found the English Literature course very enjoyable. I have read works that I would never have contemplated tackling otherwise, and, consequently, have discovered many new authors and poets. To put literature in its historical context has proved fascinating, and I feel that I have gained much from this. It is a pity, though, that there is only one lesson on the twentieth century; perhaps this could be a whole new course? Susan Holmes, Derby


I took up this course as a means of filling in a number of gaps in my knowledge of English literature. The style in which each lesson was written was clear and informative. The voice of the tutor in the feedback given was both helpful and thought-provoking and I looked forward each time to his comments. I had an incredible time discovering writers I had failed to read at undergraduate level and re-discovering writers whom I had not read for over 20 years. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in reading some of the greatest literature this country has produced. Ben Foley


I have really enjoyed doing this English Literature course and I am sorry I have reached the end of it. I have always been a voracious reader but never a well-organised one, and this is where this course has been particularly useful. It made me go back to the roots of our literature, eg. Geoffrey Chaucer, and brought me smoothly but firmly through authors and poets I had not touched since my schooldays, but which I found I still enjoyed. What I liked particularly was the 'individual' feel in your comments about each of my answers. It was not as though there was an unknown faceless person marking my papers, but rather someone who was really interested in the efforts I was making when putting pen to paper - that was very satisfying, especially as you always sent them back so promptly! I really am sad that I have reached the end of the last lesson. Mary Curtis, Taunton


Well, I have reached the end of the English Literature course. I have enjoyed it very much and I have found it very useful. I have a stack of unread books on my desk which I bought since I joined this course because I finally know which books to look out for. Thank you very much. Andrea Wieneke, Hamburg, Germany


I found the English Literature course most enjoyable. It was challenging, entertaining, and enlightening. I found my instructor to be intelligent and witty, and receiving English posted mailings from him added to the mystique and ambience of the course. I highly recommend the course. Sarah J. Bouhaben, California, USA


This course helped me read each work in the context of its historical background, something I had never done before. The tutor's comments were very detailed and encouraging. I highly recommend this Enjoying English Literature course to everyone who loves reading. Masako Tsukurimichi


I enrolled for the Enjoying English Literature course hoping it would introduce me to many books which I had not previously read, and that it would stimulate my mind and present me with challenges to overcome. It has done these things and also helped me to exercise my meagre talents in writing about subjects I had never tackled before. For all these things I am truly grateful to the School and to my very helpful tutor. Jack Nettleton, York


I think the English Literature course is great. It gives one a clear perspective of English literature, and the variety is immense. I think it is an enlightening course, and a very enjoyable one at that.Nitya Bakshi, India

This course has met and surpassed my expectations. I took the course to try to better understand the historical shape and structure of English literature because I didn't really know where or how to start. Having completed the course I have acquired the benefit of that perspective as well as a much better sense of what I actually enjoy reading. I even managed to enjoy some of the poetry which I wasn't expecting to do. However, the most valuable benefit I have derived is the privileged experience of looking into and analysing so many human minds. I am very much looking forward to using this new-found knowledge and self-confidence in my future reading. The tutor and School Administrator have been very supportive from start to finish. The lesson notes were important because they enabled me to understand the historical context and background to each era prior to exploring the writers and their works. Then at the end of each lesson, the tutor's feedback on my written comments reassured me that I was understanding the intellectual concepts and aesthetic value of the works as I went along. Gareth Rowlands