by Alan Bennett
First published 2004
Eight bright, charismatic students vie for a coveted spot at Oxford. But their unorthodox history teacher, the wry and brilliant Hector, cares more about cultivating curious minds than just passing exams. As the boys navigate the caprices of an educational system obsessed with results, they must confront the true purpose of learning - and the heavy price of conformity.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, education, academia, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
109 pages · Paperback · Faber & Faber