It’s no secret: Oxford is my very favorite place. In the world.
I fell in love with it more than a decade ago, when I stepped off the bus (after an overnight flight) as a wide-eyed college sophomore, who couldn’t believe her luck at getting to spend an entire semester in an ancient, lovely university town.
The ensuing four months, and the year I later spent there earning my master’s degree, only made me love it more.
I’ve been back to visit a few times, most recently a year and a half ago, but I’m always itching to go back. Until the next time, though, I always love (re)visiting it on the page. So here are my favorite Oxford books:
Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers is the first Oxford novel I ever read, and still the best. It’s a mystery, a love story, a feminist novel and a brilliantly rendered evocation of Oxford in the 1930s. Many of the streets and buildings have not changed, so the descriptions still feel utterly fresh. So do the insights on work and love, intellectual and emotional freedom, and whether it is possible for women to remain true to themselves and also be married.
Oxford Revisited is a slim, lyrical memoir by novelist and Oxford alumnus Justin Cartwright, whose love for the university matches my own. He writes about his time as an undergraduate and about Oxford itself: its ancient traditions, complicated architecture and captivating beauty. I got to meet him and hear him speak at the Oxford Literary Festival. He was kind and erudite, which made me love the book even more.
These Ruins are Inhabited was a serendipitous find: a memoir mistakenly shelved in the fiction stacks at the Montague Bookmill. Muriel Beadle was an American journalist whose husband was a visiting professor at Oxford in the late 1950s, and she describes their family’s time there with wit and spirit. Keenly observed and so much fun.
Isolarion by James Attlee charts “a different Oxford journey,” as the subtitle says: the relatively new, wildly multicultural East Oxford neighborhood of Cowley. I lived in Cowley during my second stay in Oxford and found it messy, confusing, sometimes frustrating and often delightful. Attlee brings it vividly to life.
These are my faves, but I’ve read and loved a handful of other Oxford-centric books. So here are a few honorable mentions:
Fiction
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is hilarious chick lit with a soul. It’s set largely in Oxford, since the two main characters (Nick and Bex, inspired by Will and Kate) meet there.
Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay is a highly entertaining mystery romp set in 1930s Oxford – essentially Gaudy Night lite. (With plenty of tea and biscuits.)
The Late Scholar takes Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey (of Gaudy Night fame) back to Oxford, to solve another mystery. I usually don’t like fan fiction, but Jill Paton Walsh’s continuation of Sayers’ series is so well done.
Nonfiction
The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter is a meticulously researched, detailed account of the famous literary group that included (among others) C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. You can hardly walk in Oxford without tripping over a reference to those two, and this is an excellent look at their work and influence.
My History by Antonia Fraser is a coming-of-age story, a Downton Abbey-esque peek into the early 20th century, and a love letter to Oxford, where she grew up.
Surprised by Oxford is Carolyn Weber’s journey of finding faith and love (among other things) in Oxford.
Most links (not affiliate links) are to my favorite local bookstore, Brookline Booksmith.
Any favorite books set in Oxford that you’d recommend?
The first couple of Mary Russell books have important parts in Oxford! I feel like those prepared me for Gaudy Night.
Yes, they do! I wrote about one of them here: https://katieleigh.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/i-never-tire-of-oxford/
I love your Oxford posts. Your love for the city and your joy in it shine through in every word. I will have to check out these books – Gaudy Night is the only one I’ve read (loved it).
Deborah Harkness first book A Discovery of Witches made me need to know more about Oxford. The first chapters spent in the Bodleian sounded like heaven.
I want to go to there.
Let’s go!
Oxford is a special place. Years ago I went to England and loved it. We went in March which is not an ideal time to go – we didn’t dress warm enough – we got sick but it was still wonderful because it was England. I’m glad we saw Oxford – we saw C.S. Lewis’ college/chapel area and it was one of the few sunny days. I remember there were daffodils everywhere. Whenever I see daffodils I think of England. Gaudy Night is one of my favorite books.
Yes, daffodils remind me of Oxford too!
Oxford is the place I imagine myself visiting and feeling like I’ve come home. I love Gaudy Night, too– it’s one of my favorite books.
what an amazing round up!! You have piqued my interest on Gaudy Night, I just reserved at at the library based on your recommendation!
Hooray! Hope you enjoy!
Like you Katie , I fell in love with the place when I visited there , The buildings , the History just walking around the colleges is all inspiring and as an Art History blogger you cant beat the Ashmolean one of the most famous of Art Galleries , thanks for the post and the pictures I will treasure it and hopefully give me the inspiration to visit the city again. Laurence
Well, we can’t forget the Inspector Morse series!
Of course! I’ve only read one of those.
Hmmm…I think my comment evaporated moving from one room to the other. Anyway, just popping in to say I loved Surprised by Oxford and that you might enjoy the fictional trilogy by Melanie Jeschke – titles are Inklings, Expectations, and Evasions – all take place in relatively modern day Oxford. She also did a modern day retelling of Jane Eyre titled Jillian Dare that I had my girls read for fun when they finished Jane Eyre. Thanks for the list! Oxford is part of my dream trip. 🙂
I read Jeschke’s trilogy a few years ago. Really fun!
Makes me want to go back again. Your list will give me a vicarious visit until I can get back there in person – thanks.
Lovely post and pictures. I am recently acquainted with Oxford through Hsin-Yi’s Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series, which is set there. Every now and then I enjoy a good cozy mystery and I instantly fell in love with her books. She is an Oxford graduate and also shares her love and appreciation for the institution through her blog posts and books.