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Jane Gardam Quote

Thank you, he said. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If there is anyone here this afternoon whom I have convinced that books are meant to be enjoyed, that English is nothing to do with duty, that it has nothing to do with school - with exercises and homework and ticks and crosses - then I am a happy man. He turned away but then he turned back again and he suddenly simply shouted, he bellowed To hell with school, he cried. To hell with school. English is what matters. ENGLISH IS LIFE. The Head grabbed him and led him off to her sitting-room for tea, not looking too thrilled, and we were let out and I went flying home.

Jane Gardam

Thank you, he said. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If there is anyone here this afternoon whom I have convinced that books are meant to be enjoyed, that English is nothing to do with duty, that it has nothing to do with school - with exercises and homework and ticks and crosses - then I am a happy man. He turned away but then he turned back again and he suddenly simply shouted, he bellowed To hell with school, he cried. To hell with school. English is what matters. ENGLISH IS LIFE. The Head grabbed him and led him off to her sitting-room for tea, not looking too thrilled, and we were let out and I went flying home.

Tags: english, reading, school

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About Jane Gardam

Jane Mary Gardam (born 11 July 1928) is an English writer of children's and adult fiction. She also writes reviews for The Spectator and The Telegraph, and writes for BBC radio. She lives in Kent, Wimbledon, and Yorkshire. She has won numerous literary awards, including the Whitbread Award twice. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.