Stefan Collini

Stefan Collini, Professor Emeritus of Intellectual History and English Literature at the University of Cambridge, shares insights on the complex evolution of English literature as an academic discipline. He discusses the struggle between literature’s artistic nature and the scientific expectations of academia. Collini highlights the unconventional journeys of key literary figures, the challenges faced by pioneering women like Caroline Spurgeon and Edith Morley, and critiques of early 20th-century English literary scholarship. This discussion raises profound questions about the role of universities and societal views on literature.