My daughter started college this week, and I start teaching a class for Catholic University’s graduate program in Library Science next week. So, I find myself thinking of books about school and academics. There are a lot of fascinating works of fiction set in academia. They are often funny, satiric, and thoughtful in equal measure. Here are some of my favorites.
- Robertson Davies — The Lyre of Orpheus
- Michael Malone — Foolscap
- R.F. Delderfield — To Serve Them All My Days
- Jon Hassler — Rookery Blues
- Phillip Roth — The Human Stain
- David Lodge — Small World
- Kingsley Amis — Lucky Jim
- Richard Russo — Straight Man
Other favorites? Add them in the comments.
Blogging for a Good Book 
The Lecturer’s Tale?
Moo by Jane Smiley is an excellent book of academia.
The Kate Fansler mysteries by Alicia Cross are great mysteries and written by an academic insider to boot!
Finally, the Peter Shandy mysteries by Charlotte MacLeod are a very humorous look at a small agricultural college.
All great suggestions, Jennifer. Thanks.
Judith, The Lecturer’s Tale is a fine addition to the list. Very over the top at the end as I recall.
University Shambles, by Chris Rhodes, is great…and a bit gut-wrenching. Realistically satirical is what I’d call it.
[…] and science writing, I am also easily won by books about scholarship, research, occult books, and academia. One of my long-time favorites in this category is A. S. Byatt’s luminous novel […]