Oxford Revisited

It is impossible not to be impressed by Christ Church, the grandest of all of the Oxford colleges. There is its signature bell tower (“Tom Tower,” as it is called), designed by Christopher Wren in the 17th century.

- Brendan Simms

History in the House

By Richard Davenport-Hines William Collins, 432 pages, $32

A visitor to the college’s dining hall will be immediately struck by the portraits—as I was when I arrived as a lowly research fellow 30 years ago. The alumni of the House, as the college is known to its members, include no fewer than 13 prime ministers, among them William Gladstone, Lord Salisbury and Anthony Eden. Even today, the aura of Christ Church gives it a prominence in British public life. When the dean and the college’s fellows—confusingly called “students”—quarreled a couple of years ago, the charges and countercharges were treated as headline news.

“History in the House” is not a chronicle of the House per se but a study of history at the college in the first part of the 20th century. Richard Davenport-Hines, a distinguished histo

rian himself, describes a realm of inspirational teaching and scholarly pursuit. Along the way, he draws vivid portraits of some of the dons, touching on their work and tracking their friendships and rivalries. It is not exactly a vanished realm, but its customs and traditions may seem quaint to anyone familiar with many of today’s universities.