CLASSICAL PURSUITS

Founded in 1999 by Ann Kirkland, Classical Pursuits is a one-week residential summer series of literary discussions held at St Michael's College, University of Toronto each July. People come from all over North America to experience this unique opportunity to exercise their brains with like-minded companions.

Each year, registrants enrol in one of up to a dozen discussion groups and meet every morning with their group for a week. Following the research model of the Great Books Society of Chicago, most groups engage in the "shared enquiry" method of discussion and discovery. Most of the groups concentrate on a single, complex literary work (such as The Aeneid, War and Peace, the Leopard, Moby Dick, etc) but there are also groups whose focus is the visual arts, plays or a composer of music. A different menu of discussion groups is offered each year.

After the morning sessions, all the groups then co-mingle for lunch. The two afternoon sessions each day are plenary. In the evenings, out-of-towners experience Toronto's restaurants and cultural sites.

Iain and Ann are old pals. Iain has taught a course in association with Classical Pursuits each year since 2002. His courses are held in the 3-5 pm time slot. Full registrants in Classical Pursuits get Iain as an added bonus, while those who come only for the OPERA IS course enjoy mingling with the Classical Pursuits patrons.

For further details on Ann's programs (and her many literary discussion TOURS) visit www.classicalpursuits.com

Iain's Courses at Classical Pursuits