THE appearance of, yet another book on Oxford must be
justified by adequate new photographs and a readable, fresh and enlightening narrative. The illustrations are not easily found, for photographers, like authors, are apt to indulge in sentimental clichés, while many readers of an Oxford survey will have firm feelings about the most endearing angle of" the High," a curious side street, or a little house in Bath Place which has been unforgivably forgotten. It is no simpler to produce a pleasant text which includes all essential facts in due proportion, suggests the growth and relationship of city and university and the historical importance of " one of ye most famous and learned companyes of men that ever was visible in ye Christian World." Mr. VVoolley's text avoids all the pitfalls and it is admirable. Without a trace of pedantry and with many enlivening touches he has written an inte- grated account of the foundation of the colleges, the feud between town and gown which brought academic supremacy, the struggle with Catholicism in the seventeenth century and with the Hanoverians in the next ; describing the foundation of three colleges within. the last quarter-century, he has suggested some of Oxford's future. As he has also provided an itinerary, a chrono- logical list of colleges, a list of famous alumni, a bibliography, and even the text of that strange survival, the bidding prayer which is only used three times a year, the visitor will be excellently equipped. The photographs are surprisingly unhackneyed, and some of them are notably good. Keble has not been shown, but the only unfortunate omissions are pictures of Merton Street and the small side streets which are some of the minor pleasures of the City, and of lectures and tutorials which would give some suggestion of undergraduate life. J.R.
Previous page
