The Classics in the Slums

Until fairly recently, Britain had an amazingly vital autodidact culture, where a large minority of the working classes passionately pursued classic literature, philosophy, and music. They were denied the educational privileges that Professor Smith enjoyed, but they knew that the “great books” that she derided would emancipate the workers.

The Classics in the Slums by Jonathan Rose is a great article that ties into a number of the readings I’ve been giving to my students in English 086. I’m looking forward to reading Rose’s book The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes.