For my birthday, OJ bought me a book called Oxford & Cambridge; An Uncommon History, written by Peter Sager. The description on the inner book sleeve states:

"...Sager draws on a treasure trove of facts, figures and anecdotes to provide a witty and detailed map of Oxbridge. He roams through the idyllic gardens and courtyards, uncovers the secrets that lie behind the College gates... [the book] is a unique combination of travel guide, history, biography and psychoanalysis of two towns that are not just places but state of mind".

In a nutshell, that is an accurate description of the book. I've been delving in and out of it for the past couple of weeks (it's about 400 pages of large hardback so not something you can really travel with on the tube) and finally finished all I wanted to read by last night. What does that mean? Well, I read the pages comparing Oxford and Cambridge, and I read the sections covering the History and Culture of Oxford. I have left the History and Culture of Cambridge for a rainy day.

And what do I think? As an Oxford alumni, obviously I feel a strong sense of pride when turning the pages of this book. It's wonderful to read a romantic history about these two places, embodied in the word "Oxbridge", and realise that you are part of its famous alumni, its traditions, its culture and its intellect. It's certainly well worth a read (if only to boost an ego) and the so-called "psychoanalysis" of the two towns (I'm not sure that description is really the most appropriate, but it's not my place to say) is thoroughly interesting.

And now comes the gripe. Whilst I am an Oxonian, I am also a Lincolner. What is the cliche shouted in the film A Few Good Men: Unit, Corps, God, Country or something? Well, I certainly serve Lincoln above Oxford at any rate. Therefore, I expect Lincoln to feature in a book about Oxford. I know it's hideously small... but we have traditions, great traditions. We beat the bounds, we throw pennies on poor unsuspecting children on Ascension Day, we have a Lincoln Imp, and Methodists across the globe make the pilgrimage to Lincoln to see where Wesley wrote a few carols. What else? We are beautiful and have perfect grass, our library is a former church, and we do have a few famous alumni, including John le Carre. If you were writing a quirky novel about Oxford, surely you'd want to include Lincoln? Well, from what I have read, the only reference - and bear in mind this book has a chapter dedicated to "Oriel and Corpus Christi" and one to "Brasenose, Exeter and Jesus" - is the following (paraphrased):

... wander down the High and you reach All Saints, the church on the edge of Turl St, which is now home to Lincoln's library…(that's not actually the full name of the church, anyway)
... the fact that John le Carre and Wesley went to Lincoln
... the existence of the Mitre, and the fact that Lincoln students still live above it (don't we know it)
... and that's about it, other than the immortal line, "Jesus, Exeter and Lincoln all lie on Turl St".

What about throwing pennies on children and beating the bounds? Surely that's worthy of this book? There is also a chapter dedicated to "The Mother Of All Colleges : Merton". Tch! Although, considering recent developments, perhaps I should begin to be more patriotic towards Merton too.

In summary, this book is a very interesting read for anyone who has visited the University and wishes to know more about its traditions and culture, or for an ex/current student who wants to bath in all its glory. It's a captivating read, and certainly the most comprehensive and varied history of Oxford I have read to date (although I think I've probably only read one...). I'm sure it is equally as interesting from a Cambridge point of view and describes that "other place" oh so well, but I wouldn't know and I don't care. As Henry James wrote, "If Oxford were not the finest thing in England, the case would be clearer for Cambridge".