|
|
Article: A peppery don beats the big C. (book review)
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- February 15, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: HARRIET SERGEANT
TWENTY years ago, five young men and I lay nervously on a double bed.
We were all students and this was our first night at Oxford University.
The bed belonged to Michael Gearin-Tosh, our new tutor, described by one former pupil as resembling a vulture with ingrowing toenails.
Oxford dons were notoriously cranky and indifferent to their students. We did not know what to expect. Certainly not an elaborate dinner cooked by Michael on a camping stove, offers of wine and the arrival of John Bayley and Iris Murdoch as fellow guests.
After dinner, Michael acted out the play he was writing with such gusto ...