Once upon a life: Philip Hensher

When he had nearly finished his PhD, Philip Hensher knew that a doctorate in late 18th-century satire from Cambridge might sound good at drinks parties but was not going to get him a job on its own, unless, of course, he had wanted to teach at a university, which he didn't. So, in the summer of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Observer (London) 2011-03, p.14-15
Main Author: Hensher, Philip
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:When he had nearly finished his PhD, Philip Hensher knew that a doctorate in late 18th-century satire from Cambridge might sound good at drinks parties but was not going to get him a job on its own, unless, of course, he had wanted to teach at a university, which he didn't. So, in the summer of 1990, he applied for dozens of jobs in a random way. By the end of the summer, the only two jobs he had been offered were as an English-language tutor at the University of Cologne, and as a clerk in the House of Commons. He took the latter, and booked himself a front-row seat at one of the great political dramas of the century, including the resignation of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister.
ISSN:0029-7712