IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  5-23-06  CONTACT:  PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SILVER CITY—A new history course titled “Mystery History, HIST 480/580” will be offered at Western New Mexico University during Summer Session I beginning June 1 through June 30 from 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.

By reading a set of short stories from the Mystery genre, the student will learn the history of the Victorian era.  For example, in the story "A Scandal in Bohemia," Sherlock Holmes deals with many aspects of the late nineteenth century--politics, royal families, the status of women, the legal system of Britain, religion, styles of dress, the class system, photography, transportation, and food, to name a few, said instructor Griffon Campbell.  

The three-credit hour course is opened to all, but students who are interested in British or European social history or literature will find it of particular interest.  It will appeal especially to people who do not care for history since the course presentation is based on entertaining short stories.  Videos will also be shown in class in order to place the material in a visual context, added Campbell.

Campbell, is a lifelong Sherlockian and a member of several Holmesian societies.  Campbell's doctorate is in the history of Great Britain, for which she did post-graduate work in England, with a particular emphasis on Victorian Britain.

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