Summer Shopping

During the academic year a committee of editors of the Harvard CRIMSON (or, if you prefer, the HARVARD WINTER NEWS) meets to study the University's catalogue of courses in order to publish recommendations for puzzled students. For the summer session student, this same committee prepares a similar guide for the perplexed.

A great many subjects people feel compelled to study in the summer are not enjoyable at all; if you are planning to knock off an organic chemistry or elementary economics requirement in the next eight weeks, you may as well stop reading now. But if you have come to Cambridge to have a pleasant time, read on. The courses cited below ought to be among the summer's best.

Group One: for early risers.

(Eight or nine o'clock lectures sound forbidding, but be warned: in the heat of July, the earliest classes are the most comfortable.)

Comparative Literature S-174, a survey of modern Greek literature in translation, should be outstanding. The lecturer, Constantine Trypanis, is one of the few authorities on this neglected area of world literature.

Philosophy S1a, taught by Professor Emeritus Raphael Demos, is an introduction to ancient thought. Demos's lectures have long been favorites of real Harvard students.

German S-147, "Modern German Literature," gives summer students who read German a chance to enjoy the fine instruction of Harvard's Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.

English S-115a is a study of Chaucer's early poems under B. J. Whiting, a consistently entertaining lecturer.

English S-172, a survey of American fiction, will concentrate on the most famous works of selected authors. Even if you have read Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter, and all the others, lecturer Joel Porte will probably tell you a lot more about them than you know now.

Biology S-104, "Plants and Human Affairs," is the most delightful summer science course around. It covers all sorts of economically important plants and plant-products: foods, drugs, narcotics, poisons, dyes. In lab, students make soap, paper, and bourbon; eat tropical fruits; and sample exotic beverages like guarana and alcohol.

Group Two: for not-so-early risers.

Education S-A-206, a study of economic, social, and political influences on American education, will be taught by Herold C. Hunt of the Graduate School of Education and a former superintendent of Chicago public schools.

English S-174 offers selected readings in American poetry with analyses by Albert Gelpi, a promising young member of the English department.

Social Sciences S-138, "The Civilization of France," is, in the winter, a tremendously popular course with Harvard undergraduates. Laurence Wylie's lectures are pleasant, and everyone enjoys the movies which make up much of the course's "reading" list.

Music S-116 is Joseph Kerman's analysis of Mozart's operas. It ought to be a fine course.

Social Relations S-150, "Child Development and Adolescence" is another well-liked regular Harvard course. George Goethals, who teaches it during the year, has received much favorable comment.

Group Three: for late risers.

English S-160, a course in modern drama, was one of the best offerings of the Summer School last year. Dr. Denis Donoghue of University College, Dublin returns to teach it again this summer.

Humanities S-8e, ambitiously titled "The Individual in the Drama" promises to be an interesting survey conducted by Cedric Whitman, professor of Greek and Latin.

History S-109e concerns the history of Rome from 79 B.C. to 14 A.D. Mason Hammond, who gives the course, is an eminent Harvard classicist and charming lecturer.

History S-189, "International Relations of the Middle East," taught by George Kirk, deals with an inherently fascinating subject and in addition meets late enough for the most sluggardly summer intellects--3-4 p.m.

The Harvard CRIMSON committee on course recommendations wishes you the best of luck in your selections.