Oxford has inspired generations of writers.
Its colleges, libraries, rivers and eccentric characters have provided settings, ideas and communities for some of the most influential names in English literature.
Lewis Carroll
Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, taught mathematics at Oxford. The city and its academic world helped shape the imaginative environment associated with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Tolkien and C. S. Lewis
J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis were both Oxford academics and members of a literary circle that met to discuss stories, language and ideas. Their friendship is part of Oxford’s modern literary history.
Libraries and bookshops
The Bodleian and Oxford’s independent bookshops make the city particularly rewarding for readers. Even students who are not literature specialists can find English learning materials and discover books they would never encounter at home.
Walk the stories
A literary walk can turn the city into a reading exercise. Notice names, inscriptions, buildings and places mentioned in biographies or novels, then discuss what you have found with classmates.
Make your own Oxford story
The best way to experience literary Oxford is not only to remember famous authors but to create your own connection with the city. Read, explore, discuss and write about what you see.