Review: "Jane Austen: A Life" by Claire Tomalin

Of all of the Jane Austen biographies I've read, and re-read in the past month or so in England, none of them compare to Claire Tomalin's "Jane Austen: A Life  with its depth of research, rich historical and textual analysis and beautiful writing. If you only ever read one biography of Jane Austen, make sure it is this one. I'm also excited to read her biography of Charles Dickens, which I've been told is just as brilliant. 

Shelley Memorial

The Shelley Memorial is a memorial dedicated to the English poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley who attended University College but was then expelled for writing the pamphlet, The Necessity of Atheism. The Memorial sculpted by Edward Onslow Ford and is a white marble sculpture of a reclining nude and dead Shelley washed up on the shore at Viareggio in Italy after his drowning. The memorial can be found in the University College's dorm buildings in a special memorial room.

Christ Church Cathedral

This morning I attended an Anglican Mass at Christ Church Cathedral at Oxford. The Cathedral was beautiful and reminded me of Bath Abbey. The service was about prejudice as well as Mothering Sunday. The Christ church cathedral choir is 500 years old and my favorite part of the mass.

Happy Mothering Sunday!

In the United Kingdom today is Mother's Day, although they most commonly call it "Mothering Sunday." Happy Mothering Sunday to my wonderful mom who eases each and every sorrow and makes me laugh and smile like no one else can. I love and miss you.

Oxford History

Oxford is made up of 39 individual colleges which are still largely autonomous. University College, where I'm staying, was founded in 1249 and is the oldest college in Oxford. The college owes its origins to William of Durham who died in 1249. Originally, the college was open only to students studying theology. In 1979, the college admitted its first female students. Two twentieth-century Prime Ministers have been associated with University college; and other political leaders include President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke. Other alums: Stephen Hawking, C.S. Lewis, Percy Shelley (who was expelled!) and Prince Felix Yusupov, the assassin of Rasputin.

First Day at Oxford!

We arrived at Oxford today and I got all settled into my apartment and had a tour of where my classes will be and the city of Oxford. It's exactly as I had imagined it would be and "my" college, University College, is the oldest college at Oxford. I went out with the girls and explored the city and had Malaysian food for dinner! Here are pictures of the quadrangle where I live and a little bit of the city. More to come!