Phyllis Deutsch
Phyllis Deutsch holds a PhD in modern European history from New York University. For
several years, she taught history at NYU, Columbia University, The New School for
Social Research, and the University of Pennsylvania. For 15 years, she served as editor-in-chief
at University Press of New England, where she published numerous titles in the fields
of 19th century history, literature, and culture. She is currently a Lecturer in the
Writing Program at Dartmouth College.
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (Summer Term 2026)
Participant Testimonials:
to come
Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence (Summer Term 2026)
Participant Testimonials:
Phyllis is a superb study leader, always well prepared, highly knowledgeable about the subject, and includes additional materials in her PowerPoint presentations which provide helpful context. She invites participants to share their views of the subject and responds to participant comments in a way which further expands an understanding of the material.
I had read LCL several years ago but I took this course to reexperience my enjoyment of the read. WOW. Prof Deutsch guides us to examine the content in depth… I totally enjoyed the course
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (Spring Term 2026)
Participant Testimonials:
This was an excellent course on all counts. Phyllis serves more as a facilitator than instructor, which is great for adult learners, but also as an expert resource as occasion demands. Her PowerPoints were most helpful too.
As usual, Phyllis diligently prepares - background power points, pre discussion prompts for discussion - and always chooses challenging works many of which I have spent years avoiding - and makes them accessible and usually (for me) enjoyable. Joyce’s Portrait is a perfect example.
Hard Times by Charles Dickens (Winter Term 2026)
Participant Testimonials:
Phyllis is a superb teacher. She makes the classes interesting, provides excellent background material, and challenges students to think. She has a thorough knowledge of the subject (the novel Hard Times). She has a following of engaged and committed learners and I look forward to her classes. I highly recommend Phyllis.
Phyllis does an amazing job making sure almost everyone participates. No one dominates, no one’s hand gets forgotten
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens (Fall Term 2025)
Participant Testimonials:
Phyllis helped me appreciate the novel and see the depth in Dickens' writing and themes.
Phyllis was always well-prepared. She provided helpful prompts for our reading ahead of each class. Her enthusiasm for the novel, her deep joy in reading it with the class were infectious.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (Summer Term 2025)
Participant Testimonials:
Flawlessly designed. Excellent pace. Very manageable reading assignments for each class.
Phyllis is masterful in stimulating discussion. Her power point presentations were always pertinent and informative and provided really helpful historical background.
George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda (Spring Term 2025)
Participant Testimonials:
Phyllis’s book choice was a huge challenge both in terms of content and length but I loved it - challenge yes - BUT I learned so much. Phyllis is incredible and her loyal followers are as well. Love that I’m able to join in from far.
Dr. Deutsch reads the books she teaches a couple times BEFORE reading it with us -- provides thought-provoking questions, and always has nuggets to share about everything from her thesis (on gambling!) to years of teaching history.
Phyllis puts a lot of work into reading and rereading and crafting questions for us to ponder that are thoughtful and produce great discussions!
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (Fall Term 2024)
Participant Testimonials:
Another enriching, entertaining, and educational course led by Phyllis. In addition to her own expertise and terrific teaching ability, her courses attract a whole host of brilliant people. I learn from all of them and only wish I was smarter.
She fosters an enthusiastic, engaged audience regardless of how much we enjoyed the book.
Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Summer Term 2024)
Participant Testimonials:
I appreciated her PowerPoint overviews and other visuals, in particular the images of Tess that demonstrated her sexuality. Her inclusion of Hardy's relevant poems felt important to me as I work on my next collection of poems.
Superb discussion; in-depth analysis by professor and classmates; strong historical content provided by professor on labor realities, women's role, etc. at the time the novel was written.
Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native (Spring Term 2024)
Participant Testimonials:
This is probably my 4th course with Phyllis. She continues to deliver in-depth and provocative approaches to the novel in question.
Phyllis is a great teacher, supremely knowledgeable about the period, Hardy and the book. She is deft at leading a discussion that draws everyone into the topic.