Skip to 0 minutes and 3 seconds Here we are - the crime fiction section, home to some of the greatest murder mysteries and heists of all time. Have you ever wondered how the authors got away with it - the inspirations, the tactics, what they wanted to achieve? Me too! Come on, I’ll show you what I’ve dug up.
Classic Detective Fiction
Develop detailed knowledge of one of the most popular and widely read literary sub-genres of crime fiction
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Classic Detective Fiction
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Are you the next Hercule Poirot? A budding Sherlock Holmes? Embrace your inner Dick Tracy and dive into the world of detective fiction!
Explore the back-stories of some of the earliest examples of crime fiction
This course delves deep into the evolution of the crime fiction genre from the early nineteenth century to the present day with a focus on detective novels. Many of these novels shaped the way we think about reading, and have engaged generations of readers from childhood through to our twilight years.
Did you know that over 2 billion copies of Agatha Christie’s detective novels are estimated to have been sold? [1]
On this course you will develop advanced skills in analysing and contextualising crime fiction texts from the UK, the US, Australia and beyond.
Join us and embark on the fascinating tale behind the twist.
What topics will you cover?
- The early history of detective fiction
- Detective fiction sub-genres
- Reading detective fiction
- Plots and narrative structures
- Classic detective fiction devices
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Discuss the history of crime fiction and some of the key crime fiction subgenres.
- Explore the key formal, thematic and contextual characteristic of individual crime fiction texts.
- Investigate crime fiction texts in relation to their genre and the idea of genre evolution.
Who is the course for?
This course is made for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of crime fiction.
Avid readers and true crime connoisseurs should find a lot to engage them here.
Who will you learn with?
I'm an Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Newcastle, Australia. I'm also a specialist in - and avid reader of - crime fiction and have published extensively in this area.
Who developed the course?
The University of Newcastle Australia
The University of Newcastle is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and 173rd in the world (QS rankings, 2024).
Established
1965Location
Newcastle, AustraliaWorld ranking
Top 180Source: QS World University Rankings 2024
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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