"If Oxford were not the most beautiful thing in England, Cambridge would be somewhat easier," wrote Henry James. Oxford has brought up more prime ministers, but Cambridge has more Nobel laureates. For almost 8 years, the two capitals of English intellectual life have been spreading their influence around the world, releasing not only political leaders, but also the best spies, church leaders, as well as a great many writers. Peter Zager, drawing on an invaluable trove of facts and anecdotes, created a detailed and witty history of Oxbridge (a term coined by William Thackeray). Equally important - along the way, the author revealed a lot of secrets lurking outside the gates of colleges. Wonderful research is supported by photographs, maps, an explanatory dictionary, a list of useful addresses and a bibliography.