The Oxford Diaries Of Arthur Hugh Clough

The Oxford Diaries of Arthur Hugh Clough are a series of personal diaries written by Clough while he was an undergraduate at Balliol and a Fellow of Oriel. The diaries throw light not only on Clough's own development as a poet, but on the Oxford education of the time and the religious sensibility of the early Victorian era. Clough was influenced by Thomas Arnold at Rugby, and felt the attraction of the charisma of Newman at Oxford. He was torn between the liberal and the catholic view of Christianity, and began to raise the questions which led him eventually to agnosticism. In lighter moments, the diaries show Clough boating on the river and walking with Matthew Arnold through the countryside immortalized by The Scholar Gypsy.

Arthur Hugh Clough is one of the most undervalued Victorian poets. His importance is now being recognized, and the New Oxford Book of Victorian Verse assigns him his rightful position as a major poet. While an undergraduate at Balliol and a Fellow of Oriel, Clough wrote a series of intensely personal diaries, which throw light not only on his own development as a poet, but on the Oxford education of the time and the religious sensibility of the early Victorian era. Having been influenced by Thomas Arnold at Rugby, Clough felt the attraction at Oxford of the charisma of Newman. He was torn between the liberal and the catholic view of Christianity and began to raise the questions which led him eventually to agnosticism. In lighter moments the Diaries show Clough boating on the river and walking with Matthew Arnold through the countryside immortalized by The Scholar Gypsy. Review: Readers of Clough's verse ... as well as those interested in his biography, will henceforth find this volume both fascinating and necessary. Times Literary Supplement The details it offers of the daily life of an Oxford scholar are quite enthralling. Oxford Today, Vol. 3 No. 1 attractive new volume ... Dr Kenny is to be congratulated on his success in presenting these fragmentary and somewhat incoherent jottings in an engaging and readable form Alan G. Hill, University of London, Review of English Studies, Feb. 1992 This careful and tactful edition of Clough's hitherto unpublished Oxford diaries, reproducing three quarters of the text, with quotations, repetitions and some minor material omitted, is a notable addition to the study of one of the most obliquely rewarding of Victorian poets. Sheridan Gilley, Literature and Theology Dec 92