May be taken multiple times for credit as topics change. Readings and assignments in English; readings also available in Arabic. Topic for Fall 2014: Russia in the Middle East: Literary Encounters. How have Russian writers imagined the Muslim world? How have Arab writers imagined Russia and the USSR? What happened when these fantasies collided during real-life encounters (diplomacy, study abroad, war, exile)? Knowledge of Arabic or Russian useful but not necessary. Also offered as CAS LR 456 B1 and CAS XL 470 B1.