“If Oxford were not the finest thing in England, Cambridge would be somewhat better off,” wrote Henry James. Oxford has produced more prime ministers, but Cambridge has produced more Nobel laureates. For almost 800 years, the two capitals of English intellectual life have spread their influence throughout the world, producing not only political leaders, but also the best spies, church leaders, and a great many literary figures. Peter Sager, drawing on an invaluable treasure trove of facts and anecdotes, has created a detailed and a witty history of Oxbridge (a term coined by William Thackeray). What is equally important is that along the way, the author revealed a lot of secrets hiding behind the gates of colleges. Remarkable research is supported by photographs, maps, an explanatory dictionary, a list of useful addresses and a bibliography.