Broad Street to Brideshead cover art

Broad Street to Brideshead

Broad Street to Brideshead

By: Oxford Writers' House
Listen for free

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.

© 2026 Broad Street to Brideshead
Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Episode 6: Amitav Ghosh
    Mar 16 2026

    In this episode, we’re joined by acclaimed novelist Amitav Ghosh for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling in an age of crisis. Ghosh, who holds two Lifetime Achievement awards and four honorary doctorates and has been named as one of the most important global thinkers of the last decade, reflects on his work as a writer: from anthropology to journalism, fiction to academic work. This thoughtful interview explores how stories can help us see the world—and our responsibilities within it—more clearly.

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Episode Five: Vera Brittain
    Feb 15 2026

    In this episode of Broad Street to Brideshead, we explore the life and legacy of Vera Brittain—writer, feminist, pacifist, and one of the most powerful literary witnesses of the First World War. Best known for Testament of Youth, Brittain transformed personal loss into a work that reshaped how war, memory, and women’s experience are written and understood. At the heart of this episode is a conversation with Mark Bostridge, author of Vera Brittain: A Life, who brings fresh insight into Brittain’s Oxford years, her literary friendships, and the moral seriousness that defined both her writing and her public stance.

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Episode Four: Lord Hague
    Jan 28 2026

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet