01 - Introduction

It was the first day of the opening term (semester). Entering the room with purposeful air, the lecturer plonked her books on the table, moved round to its front, leant back – half sitting, half standing – her hands by her side, resting on the table. The conversational buzz quickly died away. The students looked up, open-faced.
‘This term we're going to look at 19th century literature. Anybody got any thoughts on the subject? Any thoughts they'd like to share with us?'
A young lady raised her arm.
‘Yes?'
‘I don't like Walter Scott!'
A nervous laugh broke out among the students, followed by a low murmur of approval.
The lecturer slowly pushed herself upright, and, brushing the palms of her hands against her skirt, raised her eyes. ‘So... you don't like Walter Scott', she repeated deliberately. ‘Tell me... tell us all', waving her hand slowly round the room, ‘what is it about Scott that you don't like?'
‘Well...'. The young lady hesitated. She went on, a little nervously: ‘I haven't actually read any of his works... But...'.