As UK universities close their English literature courses and Rishi Sunak wages war on degrees that ‘don’t increase earning potential’, we celebrate 40 influential graduates and talk to some of them about what English lit meant to them. Introduction by Jeffrey Boakye
I love words. I’ve always loved reading. I’m fascinated by narrative and the shape of stories, and how literature can be used to express the breadth and depth of human experiences.
None of the above is particularly surprising. I’ve turned writing into a career, fuelled by reading and the intellectual journeys that come in tow. Like you, like everyone, there are many different things that I could have done and a variety of skills that I could have explored. But my bookish tendencies led me on a literary path as I slalomed through school, GCSEs, A-levels, and eventually undergraduate studies in English, at university.
