Several Chinese news reporters have interviewed Berring about the course, which centers on Romance of the Three Kingdoms and its huge impact on China’s culture. Considered one of the great works of Chinese literature, the 14th-century tome inspired the creation of a modern card game, Sanguosha.

The course, officially titled “Exploring the Three Kingdoms: The Classic Chinese Novel and Sanguosha the Card Game,” has drawn intense interest. Although the class can only enroll 30 students, its web page has been viewed more than 12,000 times.