Books by Ben Knights

This book argues that the history of English Studies is embedded in its classroom practice, and its practice in its history. While the subject discipline maintains strong pedagogic principles, many of its principles and values are obscure or even invisible to students and potential students.

This book is about the development in nineteenth-century England of the idea of a secular intellectual elite - the 'clerisy'. These intellectuals wanted to be in touch with transcendent values and raise the standard of intellectual life. Dr Knights examines five major writers that have important similarities, arising out of shared feelings on the subject of intellectual values.