Cambridge has inspired numerous authors to set their stories within its iconic colleges and picturesque streets. Whether exploring themes of love, espionage, or mystery, Cambridge serves as a backdrop that adds depth and intrigue to the narratives.
Cambridge has long been a source of inspiration for authors due to its blend of academic excellence, historic architecture, and vibrant cultural atmosphere. Its world-renowned university, with centuries of intellectual history, creates the perfect setting for stories that explore themes of knowledge, identity, and human relationships.
From the introspective romance of E.M. Forster’s Maurice, which delves into love and societal pressures, to the gripping crime of Alison Bruce’s Cambridge Blue, authors use Cambridge’s unique ambiance to create a vivid backdrop for their characters and narratives. The city’s evocative landscapes, secretive college societies, and intellectual life offer a rich canvas for fiction and non-fiction alike.
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These books offer a variety of perspectives on life in Cambridge, blending the city’s academic prestige with compelling plots across different genres. Here’s a selection of notable books set in Cambridge.
#1: Maurice by E.M. Forster
This novel follows the emotional journey of Maurice Hall, a young man coming to terms with his homosexuality in early 20th-century England when such relationships were illegal. Much of the novel is set in Cambridge, where Maurice’s personal struggles are mirrored by his intellectual growth. Forster’s exploration of repressed love, social expectations, and the search for identity is framed against the backdrop of Cambridge’s academic life.
- Goodreads score: 4.01
- Published: 1971 (posthumously)
- Locations: King’s College, Cambridge quad, and various college rooms.
#2: The Lessons by Naomi Alderman
Set in both Oxford and Cambridge, this novel revolves around a group of students who form intense relationships during their time at university. As their lives intertwine over the years, the novel explores themes of privilege, ambition, and the dark side of elite academic life. Cambridge is depicted as a place where intellectual pursuits and personal dramas unfold in equal measure.
- Goodreads score: 3.52
- Published: 2010
- Locations: Various Cambridge colleges and student accommodations.
#3: The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Although primarily set in a grand English estate, this historical novel features flashbacks to the academic influence of Cambridge, where characters encounter intellectual challenges that shape their futures. The novel spans decades, weaving a mystery involving memory, family secrets, and social change, with Cambridge representing a place of learning and self-discovery.
- Goodreads score: 4.07
- Published: 2006
- Locations: Flashbacks to Cambridge University settings.
#4: Snowball in a Blizzard by Steven Hatch
This non-fiction work examines the complexities and uncertainties in modern medicine, with part of its narrative set in Cambridge’s academic environment. It blends science and personal stories, using Cambridge’s world-class research institutions as a backdrop for exploring the challenges of making medical decisions when certainty is elusive.
- Goodreads score: 4.14
- Published: 2016
- Locations: Cambridge’s research labs, academic settings.
#5: Death at the Alma Mater by G.M. Malliet
In this crime novel, a murder at an ancient Cambridge college disrupts the annual alumni reunion. Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is called in to solve the mystery, uncovering long-buried secrets and academic rivalries. The novel captures the intrigue of life within Cambridge’s hallowed walls, using the city’s historical setting to enhance the tension.
- Goodreads score: 3.71
- Published: 2010
- Locations: Fictional Cambridge College (loosely based on St John’s or King’s College).
#6: The Night Climbers by Ivo Stourton
This novel follows a group of Cambridge students who engage in secretive and dangerous activities known as “night climbing” — scaling the college buildings under the cover of darkness. The story delves into themes of risk, camaraderie, and the seductive lure of elite academic life, set against the stunning architecture of Cambridge’s colleges.
- Goodreads score: 3.53
- Published: 2007
- Locations: Cambridge rooftops, college courts, and dining halls.
#7: The Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald
Set in 1912, this novel blends romance, mystery, and philosophy. It follows a young physicist at a fictional Cambridge college as he grapples with questions of science and faith. Fitzgerald uses the intellectual atmosphere of Cambridge to explore the tension between reason and belief, while the city’s historic charm adds to the novel’s nostalgic feel.
- Goodreads score: 3.77
- Published: 1990
- Locations: Fictional St. Angelicus College, modelled after small Cambridge colleges.
#8: An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears
This historical novel is set in 17th-century England, with part of its complex, multi-narrative structure in Cambridge. The story revolves around the mysterious death of a fellow at an Oxford college, involving themes of science, politics, and religion. Cambridge appears as a centre of learning and intrigue, mirroring the intellectual battles of the time.
- Goodreads score: 4.08
- Published: 1997
- Locations: Cambridge colleges and scientific institutions.
#9: The Stranger’s Child by Alan Hollinghurst
This novel spans nearly a century, tracing the shifting legacy of a famous poet whose life and relationships are tied to Cambridge. Hollinghurst explores themes of memory, reputation, and sexual identity, with key scenes set in Cambridge’s literary circles. The city’s influence on the poet’s work and personal life becomes a central element of the story.
- Goodreads score: 3.60
- Published: 2011
- Locations: Cambridge’s literary salons, King’s College.
#10: Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce
This crime novel introduces Detective Constable Gary Goodhew as he investigates a murder in the heart of Cambridge. The city’s streets, colleges, and hidden corners are the backdrop for a gritty and compelling investigation. The novel combines the intellectual prestige of Cambridge with a dark undercurrent of crime, creating a vivid and atmospheric setting.
- Goodreads score: 3.75
- Published: 2008
- Locations: Cambridge city center, colleges, and police stations.