Wadham College Oxford: Wadham Reads English Literature Book Club

Wadham Reads is a book club for Year 12 students that is designed to bridge the gap between studying literature at A Level and reading English at university. It gives participants a chance to explore literary texts in a more analytical and discussion-based way, using familiar A Level material as a springboard for broader ideas about context, theme and interpretation.

The programme centres on a themed set of online sessions called ‘Possible Worlds’. Each session combines a short lecture from a Wadham tutor with breakout-room discussion led by current Wadham students, followed by wider sharing of ideas and feedback from tutors.

There is also a general question-and-answer section about studying and living at Oxford.

Students may also be invited to attend an in-person Wadham Reads Day in Oxford. The programme is intended to make English at university feel more accessible, while encouraging students to think more deeply about literature, their own ideas and possible future study.