I studied literature at university after switching from journalism and communications. It was not the kind of comprehensive course you describe here. And I longed for the rigour of Oxford, and from your description it seems my imagination wasn't far off.
But there were moments of real bliss, of real wonder at a text, at a textual analysis. But it was the teachers, those with real passion, that inspired me.
Ahhh, to go back to a life of studying books.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is truly fascinating.
Hi Evelyn, welcome to the English Republic of Letters. Thank you for sharing your own experiences. I'm sure rigour was to be found in many places. But as you say, it's the teachers who make the lasting difference.
I enjoyed this essay and learning more about your experience so much, Jeffrey. I'm reminded of how many of my high school classmates went into law, all of us influenced by a wonderful English teacher -- including me, who was tempted by law school but never went. She used to tell me it would fine-tune my mind. She wasn't wrong. I don't regret not going that direction myself, but am amazed now by classmates who are turning out to be doing important work in the U.S.'s unjust law system.
The Byzantine machinations of Oxford are no clearer for having read your excellent essay, Jeffrey. We can only rest happily in the final result, the emergence of the New English Republic of Letters you've created.
Every time I hear about law and lawyers, I'm reminded of Rumpole of the Bailey, a series I enjoy immensely.
In my mid-20s, I toyed with the idea of working in a post office, for the only reason that I loved sending and receiving mail. I enrolled in the preparatory course to the national exam, and the first few lessons were quite interesting. Then they started talking about laws, rules, and regulations and I promptly quit.
I've been ruminating on what to say about this - my first thought was 'Well done you' - you made the change that I didn't make 10 years earlier. I carried on with my law degree, did the articles and only then realised that the last thing I wanted to be was a solicitor. So I had a couple of attempts to escape the law and eventually became an academic lawyer. In the end the law served me well enough for twenty odd years and I came out with my enthusiasm for literature intact. I think the moral is that the gap year gave you a level of maturity that I didn't have. I've forgiven myself for that. I'm glad though, that the rest of us can benefit from the change you made when we read the posts you share with us. I'm sure your nineteen year old self never thought of how the decision would ripple down the decades.
Thank you Liz. I sometimes wonder if I would have enjoyed being a lawyer. Perhaps I would have... But yes, that gap year was key for me to get a better idea of what I wanted to do/not do.
A great reflection on how you found you home in literature, Jeffrey. And I must say, much of your prose in this pieces highlights how literature was certainly the place for you — this was fantastically written. :)
Although American, I have a full set of A levels and to this day regret that I wasn't more diligent about the the English exam. That is the subject with the most resonance so many years later.
The Catholic sense of English study comes as a complete surprise, and the moral component of literature is fascinating.
At Yale, at what I'm guessing may be about the same time, literary theory and deconstruction clashed with classic close reading and criticism. The names of course were different - Paul de Man, Belgian import theorist, vs. Harold Bloom, defender of the canon and perhaps the greatest reader in the history of mankind.
Thank you, Drake! I remember Bloom as a legendary figure, whose books I knew of but I probably didn't read very diligently, if at all. I remember reading Northrop Frye, though.
Fort Lewis College is no Oxford, but one of the remarkable things I learned was the school attracted quality professors because Durango, Colorado is so beautiful. I remember whispering (okay, gossiping) with my classmates about our archaeology/anthropology professors--heavyweights in their own class, like Dr. Jim Judge who was known for his work in Chaco Canyon.
I was attracted to the mountains, but it turned out, that I made a really good choice, by chance, studying archaeology and anthropology there! Your essay is a reminder and testament to the power and pull of professors shaping your minds!
Thank you, Jay! As you suggest, I realise I was lucky to be able to sneak into the university system. In those days especially, most people (including most people from my school) went into jobs at 16 or 18, even though government funding was available to those who got into universities. That funding included not only the fees but living expenses ("maintenance grant"). As higher education expanded, the government funding became less generous.
I'm sorry if I haven't explained the system well. The old universities all have their own systems and use a bewildering array of terms.
In the UK, we also hear about the decline in the humanities. There has been more of a move towards vocationally relevant or practical courses, with the idea that universities exist basically to prepare you for work. This is an idea I've always resisted. And the UK seems full of lawyers so I'm sure that the profession never missed me. As it happens, many of our politicians studied law (or politics or economics). Very few studied science. I feel the UK would be better off with a few more engineers in government and fewer lawyers.
Wonderful piece, thank you. Took me back to my own uni days at Durham in the mid-80s and my (half-)dropping out of Physics to study Archaeology, and the History & Philosophy of Science. The latter led to my continuing (40 years on, and counting) fascination with Charles Darwin. Kids in the UK are encouraged too soon, and too forcefully, to follow certain set paths.
Thank you, Richard! I agree that for most students, enforced early specialisation is unhelpful. It sounds like your very rich combination of subjects has had a major influence on your life.
Like this post a lot. I think getting into Oxford is such a great achievement which you might write about another time. You seemed to have lucked out getting two tutors who were very human as well as very academic. But also they were amenable to your changing direction and reaching where you wanted to go. It's kind of depressing that law can lead to so many economically successful opportunities while the literature and the Humanities often don't except in teaching literature in the upper echelon. The Humanities often can show such compassion towards the struggle women and men have with successfully leading meaningful, sustainable and mostly happy lives. I was getting depressed reading about the decline of the Humanities in the U.S. because many Americans only seem sensible to hotly sensual stimulation of various forms and types. That the classics require a discipline and dedication that many American students just don't feel is worth the effort. Yet there are the exceptions, the outsiders and outliers who champion T. S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf. And then write their own stuff. It's great that Substack has room for the classics and all who admire them including you and your posts.
I studied literature at university after switching from journalism and communications. It was not the kind of comprehensive course you describe here. And I longed for the rigour of Oxford, and from your description it seems my imagination wasn't far off.
But there were moments of real bliss, of real wonder at a text, at a textual analysis. But it was the teachers, those with real passion, that inspired me.
Ahhh, to go back to a life of studying books.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is truly fascinating.
Hi Evelyn, welcome to the English Republic of Letters. Thank you for sharing your own experiences. I'm sure rigour was to be found in many places. But as you say, it's the teachers who make the lasting difference.
I enjoyed this essay and learning more about your experience so much, Jeffrey. I'm reminded of how many of my high school classmates went into law, all of us influenced by a wonderful English teacher -- including me, who was tempted by law school but never went. She used to tell me it would fine-tune my mind. She wasn't wrong. I don't regret not going that direction myself, but am amazed now by classmates who are turning out to be doing important work in the U.S.'s unjust law system.
In a way, it's all storytelling.
The Byzantine machinations of Oxford are no clearer for having read your excellent essay, Jeffrey. We can only rest happily in the final result, the emergence of the New English Republic of Letters you've created.
Thank you, Troy! And I'm sorry I couldn't make thing clearer for you 🙂
Anyway, I'm glad you're here with me in the ERL!
Every time I hear about law and lawyers, I'm reminded of Rumpole of the Bailey, a series I enjoy immensely.
In my mid-20s, I toyed with the idea of working in a post office, for the only reason that I loved sending and receiving mail. I enrolled in the preparatory course to the national exam, and the first few lessons were quite interesting. Then they started talking about laws, rules, and regulations and I promptly quit.
Thank you, Gianni. I used to love those Rumpole programmes a lot too! Sounds like you had a lucky escape from the post office!
Escape from the post office but not from the mail: I spent 15 years in the mail art network (that's a completely different story, of course).
I've been ruminating on what to say about this - my first thought was 'Well done you' - you made the change that I didn't make 10 years earlier. I carried on with my law degree, did the articles and only then realised that the last thing I wanted to be was a solicitor. So I had a couple of attempts to escape the law and eventually became an academic lawyer. In the end the law served me well enough for twenty odd years and I came out with my enthusiasm for literature intact. I think the moral is that the gap year gave you a level of maturity that I didn't have. I've forgiven myself for that. I'm glad though, that the rest of us can benefit from the change you made when we read the posts you share with us. I'm sure your nineteen year old self never thought of how the decision would ripple down the decades.
Thank you Liz. I sometimes wonder if I would have enjoyed being a lawyer. Perhaps I would have... But yes, that gap year was key for me to get a better idea of what I wanted to do/not do.
A great reflection on how you found you home in literature, Jeffrey. And I must say, much of your prose in this pieces highlights how literature was certainly the place for you — this was fantastically written. :)
Thank you, Michael, for those very kind words. This was an important turning point in my life, and I wanted to delve into the memory a bit!
I’m glad you delved in, it was a great read. :)
I love this window into those Oxford rooms and your internal thinking at the time. All new to me— (and of course they took you! 😁)
Great essay.
Although American, I have a full set of A levels and to this day regret that I wasn't more diligent about the the English exam. That is the subject with the most resonance so many years later.
The Catholic sense of English study comes as a complete surprise, and the moral component of literature is fascinating.
At Yale, at what I'm guessing may be about the same time, literary theory and deconstruction clashed with classic close reading and criticism. The names of course were different - Paul de Man, Belgian import theorist, vs. Harold Bloom, defender of the canon and perhaps the greatest reader in the history of mankind.
Thank you, Drake! I remember Bloom as a legendary figure, whose books I knew of but I probably didn't read very diligently, if at all. I remember reading Northrop Frye, though.
And your literary pleasure shines in every essay. Kudos, my friend!
Thank you, Mary!
Bravo for having the courage to make the change.
Thank you June!
Awww! I’m so glad you followed your heart and made this change, Jeffrey.
Isn’t it marvelous to look back online and see those pivotal moments all the difference.
🥰
Thank you, Holly. It is interesting, though sometimes it feels like it happened to a diffrent person…
I know that feeling!
Fort Lewis College is no Oxford, but one of the remarkable things I learned was the school attracted quality professors because Durango, Colorado is so beautiful. I remember whispering (okay, gossiping) with my classmates about our archaeology/anthropology professors--heavyweights in their own class, like Dr. Jim Judge who was known for his work in Chaco Canyon.
I was attracted to the mountains, but it turned out, that I made a really good choice, by chance, studying archaeology and anthropology there! Your essay is a reminder and testament to the power and pull of professors shaping your minds!
Hi Lani, it does sound like an inspired choice! And I can imagine it's a beautiful place.
I can’t believe I was there! Maybe you feel the same way when you walk around Oxford? 😉
Thank you, Jay! As you suggest, I realise I was lucky to be able to sneak into the university system. In those days especially, most people (including most people from my school) went into jobs at 16 or 18, even though government funding was available to those who got into universities. That funding included not only the fees but living expenses ("maintenance grant"). As higher education expanded, the government funding became less generous.
I'm sorry if I haven't explained the system well. The old universities all have their own systems and use a bewildering array of terms.
Thank you, Larry! I was indeed very lucky. And as for how I got in, I covered that a while back: https://open.substack.com/pub/jeffstreeter/p/oxford-law?r=1h6yf6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
In the UK, we also hear about the decline in the humanities. There has been more of a move towards vocationally relevant or practical courses, with the idea that universities exist basically to prepare you for work. This is an idea I've always resisted. And the UK seems full of lawyers so I'm sure that the profession never missed me. As it happens, many of our politicians studied law (or politics or economics). Very few studied science. I feel the UK would be better off with a few more engineers in government and fewer lawyers.
Wonderful piece, thank you. Took me back to my own uni days at Durham in the mid-80s and my (half-)dropping out of Physics to study Archaeology, and the History & Philosophy of Science. The latter led to my continuing (40 years on, and counting) fascination with Charles Darwin. Kids in the UK are encouraged too soon, and too forcefully, to follow certain set paths.
Thank you, Richard! I agree that for most students, enforced early specialisation is unhelpful. It sounds like your very rich combination of subjects has had a major influence on your life.
Like this post a lot. I think getting into Oxford is such a great achievement which you might write about another time. You seemed to have lucked out getting two tutors who were very human as well as very academic. But also they were amenable to your changing direction and reaching where you wanted to go. It's kind of depressing that law can lead to so many economically successful opportunities while the literature and the Humanities often don't except in teaching literature in the upper echelon. The Humanities often can show such compassion towards the struggle women and men have with successfully leading meaningful, sustainable and mostly happy lives. I was getting depressed reading about the decline of the Humanities in the U.S. because many Americans only seem sensible to hotly sensual stimulation of various forms and types. That the classics require a discipline and dedication that many American students just don't feel is worth the effort. Yet there are the exceptions, the outsiders and outliers who champion T. S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf. And then write their own stuff. It's great that Substack has room for the classics and all who admire them including you and your posts.