One way citizens of large republics are educated in the principles of government is through novels. With this in mind, this course examines selections from the work of Mark Twain. Not only is Twain America's most enduringly popular author, but his novels depict important aspects of the American character and have much to say about such themes as equality, slavery, freedom, modern science, Christianity, and democratic leadership, all of which are crucial for understanding American history and politics.
Instructor: David Foster is Associate Professor of Political Science and Chairman of the Department of History and Political Science at Ashland University. He has published on Mark Twain, John Locke, and on issues of higher education.