Broad Street to Brideshead
Join Oxford University student Nancy Gittus for a journey into the heart of a university and city that have shaped some of the world’s greatest literature. From the worried jottings of Samuel Johnson to the fiery sermons of John Donne, Nancy uncovers the way Oxford’s libraries, traditions, tutors, rivalries, and chance encounters left a lasting impression on generations of writers.
Broad Street to Brideshead
Episode Four: Lord Hague
In this episode, we’re joined by Lord Hague, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, to explore a side of his work that is quieter than frontline politics, but no less compelling: his craft as a writer of biography. Known for bringing historical figures vividly to life, Lord Hague reflects on what draws him to biography as a genre. We discuss his creative process—from the first spark of curiosity to the discipline of writing. Together we explore how his experience in public life has shaped his sensitivity to character, motive, and historical narratives.