Cambridge Summer School: Cultural Cambridge

Looking at our blogs from the past few weeks, we’ve demonstrated lots of reasons why Cambridge is such a special place to be, and why Reach Cambridge is a unique international summer camp. So now if you, like us, can’t wait for the summer programs, here are some Cambridge-related music and books to keep you going… Books Many books are set in Cambridge. It is an ideal location: a city, but surrounded by countryside, steeped in history but always up-to-date. This is perfect for the children’s classic novel ‘Tom’s Midnight Garden’, by Philippa Pearce, set in and around Cambridge. Tom is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle, and, unable to sleep, he hears the clock chime thirteen and decides to investigate. He goes out onto the patio, which has now become a Victorian garden. The story is about his friendship with the Victorian girl, Hatty, that he meets there. If fiction doesn’t take your fancy, then maybe try Stephen Hawking’s seminal work, ‘A Brief History of Time.’ Hawking wrote this while living with his family in Cambridge, and until very recently was a fellow at Gonville and Caius College. Music Three members of the influential rock band Pink Floyd were born and grew up in Cambridge, going to school there. Members of award-winning British electro-pop band Hot Chip were educated at the University of Cambridge. Muse front-man David Bellamy was born in Cambridge. Poetry ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud…’ One of Britain’s most famous poets, William Wordsworth, attended the university in the 18^th Century.  And it was whilst they were both studying at Cambridge University that one of the world’s most famous literary couples met. Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes were both hugely successful writers. Plath’s confessional style of poetry has influenced many artists since, and her novel ‘The Bell Jar’ is studied in schools. Ted Hughes’ wrote beautiful poetry mainly focusing on nature, but he also wrote the modern fairytale ‘The Iron Man’ (which became the film ‘The Iron Giant’). Cambridge is mentioned in their work, particularly Ted Hughes’ last collection ‘Birthday Letters’. There are hundreds more examples of literature, music, and even films and television programs that feature Cambridge. Enjoy exploring them in preparation for a brilliant time next summer (but don’t forget to apply)!