Detective mysteries are thriving in the 21st century, both in print and on screen. But where and how did this exciting genre begin? In this course we’ll trace detective fiction back to its classic origins, learning to recognize its foundational tropes while we read and discuss Arthur Conan Doyle’s landmark detective novel The Hound of the Baskervilles (featuring the iconic Sherlock Holmes!). Our discussions will be enriched by short lectures on the cultural contexts in which detective fiction emerged. This course will be followed up by Golden Age Detective Fiction in Spring 2027.

 

Emily August is an Associate Professor of Literature at Stockton University. She teaches courses in 19th-century British literature, true crime and detective fiction, medical humanities, and creative writing. Her debut poetry collection, The Punishments Must Be a School, explores themes of domestic violence, intergenerational trauma, and institutional harm.

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Tuition for each SILL course is $60. Courses are FREE for residents age 60+ who live in Atlantic County.