The English Book Club

Who's who in The Book "Eighteen"

Characters in "Eighteen" by Alice Loxton
Source: English Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia
Click on each image to access the character's information.

(1) Bede the Venerable

(7) - Flora MacDonald

(8) - Horatio Nelson

(9) - Sarah Biffen

(10) Mary Anning

(11) - Isambard Kingdom Brunel

(12) - Elsie Inglis

(13) - Vita Sackville-West

(14)- C.S. Lewis

(15) - Rosalind Franklin

(16) - Richard Burton

(17) - Vivienne Westwood

(18) - Rae DeDarre

October 25 Meeting - "Eighteen" by Alice Loxton

October 25 Meeting

The Book

Amazon

Alice Loxton’s Eighteen is a lively and engaging exploration.

Loxton says : I set out to write this book hoping to get to know the eighteen-year-olds of Britain. To discover who they are, who they have been for the past thousand years. I hope you’ll all come to your own, different conclusions (especially with the inclusion of Chapter Eighteen!). But here is what has stuck out to me.

Loxton brings the era to life with wit, humor, and a modern sensibility that makes history feel fresh and accessible. From the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to the social reforms and shifting politics of the time, she highlights events and figures that shaped not only Britain but also the wider world. What makes Eighteen especially compelling is Loxton’s ability to connect past and present, showing how the issues and transformations of 1818 still resonate today. Her sharp storytelling, supported by vivid anecdotes and lively illustrations, turns history into a narrative full of drama, tension, and humanity. This is not a dry academic text but an entertaining and thought-provoking journey into a single extraordinary year.

The Author

Wikimedia

Alice Loxton is a British historian, writer, and presenter known for her vibrant and accessible approach to history. Passionate about bringing the past to wider audiences, she has built a career on blending serious scholarship with humor and creativity. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, where she studied History and English Literature, she quickly gained recognition for her engaging style on social media, television, and print. Loxton has contributed to numerous historical programs and platforms, making her a recognizable voice in the field of public history. In addition to her work as a presenter, she is a successful author, with Eighteen being her debut book, published in 2023. The book reflects her mission: to make history exciting, relatable, and entertaining for all generations. Whether on screen, online, or in print, Alice Loxton stands out as a historian who turns complex historical events into captivating stories.

What are you reading? "Swimming in Paris" by Colombe Schneck

Noelia's contribution

I came across "Swimming in Paris" by Colombe Schneck while browsing Natalie Portman's book club. Although it is not the kind of book I usually read, I want to step out of my comfort zone, and I knew I had to give it a try. The fortuitous nature of this discovery added to the magnetism of the book. Often, it is in these unplanned moments of exploration that one encounters hidden gems.

Swimming in Paris is a memoir divided into three short stories. First one, adolescence, this story is magnetic, a page-turner, talking about sexual identity, familiar relationships and abortion. The second one, titled "Friendship," specifically explores how she sometimes envies and compares her friends, believing their lives are better than hers, until an event occurs that changes her perspective. And the last story, "Swimming in Paris: a Love Story, she narrates the intricate relation between her, her lover and the city.

Schneck's narrative is characterised by its directness and eschewal of unnecessary embellishments, thereby rendering the profound and occasionally taboo themes she explores in an accessible yet potent manner, beckoning readers to introspection and meditation.

To sum up, I highly recommend this book. I feel compelled to voice a criticism of the book, yet I find myself unable to do so. As I see, this book is perfect for a book club session, I know the members of the club would spend several hours arguing about sex identity, abortion rights, loss and love.

The book

Amazon

Swimming in Paris by Colombe Schneck is a delightful memoir that captures the author’s youthful years in the French capital during the 1980s. Schneck portrays Paris with honesty and nostalgia, blending her personal story with the cultural and social atmosphere of the time. Her narrative is intimate yet universal, offering readers a glimpse into the search for freedom, love, and identity. The prose is elegant but accessible, filled with vivid descriptions that transport us directly into cafés, libraries, and swimming pools. This short but memorable book leaves a lasting impression, celebrating the joy and challenges of self-discovery.

About Colombe Schneck

Wikipedia

Colombe Schneck is a French writer, journalist, and documentary filmmaker born in Paris in 1966. She studied at Sciences Po and built a career in television and radio before dedicating herself fully to writing. Schneck has published several acclaimed novels and autobiographical works, often exploring themes of family, memory, and women’s experiences. Her style combines sensitivity with sharp observation, allowing her to create stories that resonate deeply with readers. With Swimming in Paris, she offers a personal reflection on youth, independence, and the meaning of belonging. Schneck continues to be an important literary voice in contemporary French literature.

What are you reading? Lord of the flies by William Golding

Ana Melendo's contribution

This novel tells the story of a group of boys on a remote island after the plane they were traveling in crashed. First, I appreciated the rich language describing the abundant nature as well as the portrayal of the characters who are so different from each other. At first glance, the story doesn’t seem original, but without a doubt, it should rather be taken as an allegory of social relations. If we limit ourselves to reading it as the story of the adventures and misadventures of a group of boys, it is also very captivating. I won’t tell you more, but I strongly encourage you to discover it.

The Book

Amazon

William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (1954) remains one of the most striking allegories of human nature in modern literature. The novel tells the story of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island who attempt to govern themselves, only to fall into violence and chaos. What begins as an innocent attempt at democracy quickly unravels, exposing fear, cruelty, and the fragile veneer of civilization. Golding suggests that darkness is not imposed from the outside but lies within every human being.

The book has generated intense discussion since its publication. Critics have interpreted it as a commentary on the brutality of war, a reflection on the failure of rational order, and a warning about unchecked instincts. It is often taught in schools because of its accessible narrative and deep symbolism, particularly in its treatment of power, morality, and the loss of innocence. Though sometimes controversial, Lord of the Flies has secured its place as a classic, shaping how readers and scholars think about human behavior under extreme conditions. Its haunting vision continues to resonate today, reminding us of the thin boundary between civilization and savagery.

The Author

William Golding (1911–1993) was an English novelist, playwright, and poet best known for his deeply symbolic fiction. Born in Cornwall, he studied English literature at Oxford and later became a teacher. His experience in the classroom, combined with his service in the Royal Navy during World War II, profoundly influenced his view of humanity and the themes that would define his writing.

Golding’s literary breakthrough came with the publication of Lord of the Flies in 1954, which established his reputation as a major voice in postwar literature. He continued to explore the complexities of human nature in novels such as The Inheritors (1955), Pincher Martin (1956), and The Spire (1964). His works often confront moral dilemmas, the tension between civilization and barbarism, and the destructive impulses hidden beneath social order.

In 1983, Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for his ability to illuminate “the human condition in the world of today.” He was knighted in 1988 and remained a respected figure in English letters until his death in 1993. Golding’s legacy endures through his novels, which continue to challenge readers to reflect on the depths of human behavior.

The novel was adapted into a film in 1990. Lord of the Flies is an American survival drama film directed by Harry Hook. You can watch it in the attached YouTube video.