"First published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom in 2008, under the title This Secret Garden"--Title page verso

"Oxford, a medieval city dotted with beautiful gardens, is a world-renowned stronghold of knowledge. It stands for something deep in our minds - excellence, a kind of privilege, a charmed life, deep-veined liberalism, a respect for tradition. To capture the spirit of these cloistered halls, Cartwright has spoken to many leading figures, looked at favorite places in Oxford, and even subjected himself to an English tutorial (he performed very poorly). He has also looked at some of the great debates that made Oxford what it is and patched together the complex history of the place." "Cartwright depicts the beauty of this historic city and muses on his own experiences as a student there. At the same time, this is more than an encomium to an influential place: It is Cartwright's reckoning with both age and memory. After nearly forty years, he examines the walls of this old city for the shadows of his former self. With great originality, Cartwright delivers a moving meditation on history and the passage of time."--Jacket

SACFinal081324