Published on: February 4th, 2025

Hillsdale College Launches New Online Course ‘Totalitarian Novels’

The course examines the nature of totalitarian tyranny — and the means of combatting it — through novels by George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Arthur Koestler, and C.S. Lewis.

Hillsdale College Launches New Online Course ‘Totalitarian Novels’
The course examines the nature of totalitarian tyranny — and the means of combatting it — through novels by George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Arthur Koestler, and C.S. Lewis.

HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College has launched a new online course, “Totalitarian Novels,” taught by Dr. Larry P. Arnn, president and professor of politics and history. The course, released Jan. 28, examines the nature of totalitarian tyranny — and the means of combatting it — through novels by George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Arthur Koestler, and C.S. Lewis.

“Modern ideology and technology allow tyrannical regimes to seek control over the totality of society,” said Jeremiah Regan, executive director of online learning. “These books reveal how totalitarian regimes seek to remake human nature and destroy what is highest and best — friendship, family, and faith. They call us to be on guard against any trend toward totalitarianism.”

Through four novels — George Orwell’s “1984,” Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” Arthur Koestler’s “Darkness at Noon,” and C.S. Lewis’s “That Hideous Strength” — this course explores the nature of totalitarianism, the ambitions of totalitarian regimes, and the means of combatting their rise.

“Literature is a very powerful tool. Any great book tells us about nature and ourselves,” Dr. Arnn said. “Is there something in us that resists totalitarianism? To understand is part of the solution, and these novels in their different ways all point to the solution.”

The course includes eight video lectures covering aspects of the four novels:

“1984:” Pain
“1984:” History and Language
“Brave New World”: Pleasure
“Brave New World”: Drugs and Genetics
“Darkness at Noon”: Regret
“Darkness at Noon”: Loyalty and Confession
“That Hideous Strength”: Faith
“That Hideous Strength”: Science and Bureaucracy

Each episode includes an overview lecture by Dr. Arnn followed by a conversation between Dr. Arnn and four Hillsdale students about major themes and interesting passages.

To watch the trailer and register for the course, click here.

About Hillsdale in D.C.

Hillsdale in D.C. is an extension of the teaching mission of Hillsdale College to Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. Through the study of original source documents from American history—and of older books that formed the education of America’s founders—it seeks to inspire students, teachers, citizens, and policymakers to return the America’s principles to their central place in the political life of the nation.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.