Isis is the longest-running independent student magazine in England, established in 1892 at the University of Oxford. Traditionally a rival to the Cherwell student newspaper, Isis was acquired in the late 1990s by Cherwell's parent company, OSPL. Throughout its 114 years of history, it has seen much literary flair and its list of alumni, including Hilaire Belloc, Evelyn Waugh, Harold Acton, Graham Greene, John Betjeman, Michael Foot, Sylvia Plath, Dennis Potter, Richard Ingrams, Terry Jones and Nigella Lawson to name but a few, is certainly impressive. Recent editors include Tom Pursey, Georgia Warren and Alec Garton-Ash. The magazine's ISSN is 1741-5829. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... Cherwell newspaper is a student newspaper published by and for students of Oxford University. ... Oxford Student Publications Limited Oxford Student Publications Ltd or OSPL, is an independent student publishing house in Oxford that publishes the reknowned Cherwell student newspaper and the award-winning ISIS student magazine. ... Photograph of Belloc Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (July 27, 1870–July 16, 1953) was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. ... Evelyn Waugh, as photographed in 1940 by Carl Van Vechten Arthur Evelyn St. ... Harold Acton (July 5, 1904 - February 27, 1994) was an Anglo-Italian writer and dilettante who is probably most famous for inspiring the character of Anthony Blanche in Evelyn Waughs novel Brideshead Revisited (1945). ... Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH (October 2, 1904 – April 3, 1991) was a prolific English novelist, playwright, short story writer and critic whose works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world. ... Sir John Betjeman CBE (28 August 1906–19 May 1984) was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Whos Who as a poet and hack. He was born to a middle-class family in Edwardian London. ... Michael Foot For other people named Michael Foot, see Michael Foot (disambiguation). ... Sylvia Plath (October 27, 1932 – February 11, 1963) was an American poet, novelist, short story writer, and essayist. ... Liber Amoris Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935—7 June 1994) was a controversial British dramatist who is best known for several widely acclaimed television dramas which mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. ... Richard Ingrams (born 1937) was the second editor of British satirical magazine-cum-newspaper, Private Eye, taking over from Christopher Booker. ... Terence Graham Parry Jones (born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on February 1, 1942) is a British comedian, screenwriter and actor, film director, childrens author, popular historian, political commentator and TV documentary host. ... The Honourable Nigella Lucy Lawson (born 6 January 1960) is a British journalist, cookery writer and television presenter. ... ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ...

Ruth Lewy is the current (Hilary Term 2006/7) editor of Isis.

History

The Isis was founded by Mostyn Turtle Piggott, the first of the student editors, in April 1892. His first editorial contained a declaration of independence and sense of humour: 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

“We have no politics and fewer principles, and should we last until the General Election we shall use our influence for neither side. We shall endeavour to be humorous without being ill-humoured, critical without being captious, militant without being malevolent, independent without being impertinent, and funny (as Mr Albert Chevalier says) without being vulgar.”

In its early days, The Isis was owned and published by Holywell Press. Students were given complete independence, as long as the paper they produced was profitable and within good taste. Oxford welcomed the addition to its scene wholeheartedly and was more than prepared to pay the weekly sixpence. The Isis was an accurate recorder of the proceedings in the Oxford Union – enough of a function to maintain sales. The United Kingdom has five distinct types of elections: general, local, regional, European and mayoral. ... Albert Chevalier Albert Chevalier (March 21, 1861–July 10, 1923) was an English comedian and actor. ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... Oxford Union The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a private debating society in the city of Oxford, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford. ...

One of the features of the magazine that survives today is the ‘ Icons' section (then known as ‘Idols'). Back in the 1890s, the ‘Idol' page was a peculiarly Oxford self-promoting feature; presidency of OUDS (the Oxford University Dramatic Society) seemed to guarantee an appearance in print, or the latter guaranteed a quick way to the former. Some of the Idols featured pre-1939 were Lord David Cecil and T.E. Lawrence; it wasn't until 1935 that the editors judged a woman worthy of idolship – Lady Katherine Cairns was the first one featured. The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no... The Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS) is the principle funding body and provider of theatrical services to the many independent student productions put on by students in Oxford, England. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Lord Edward Christian David Gascoyne-Cecil CH (April 9, 1902 – January 1, 1986), was an English aristocrat, literary scholar, biographer and academic. ... Thomas Edward Lawrence (August 16, 1888 – May 19, 1935), also known as Lawrence of Arabia, and (apparently, among his Arab allies) Aurens or El Aurens, became famous for his role as a British liaison officer during the Arab Revolt of 1916–1918. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

With the rise of the Great War, The Isis ceased its operations for four years, until it was resurrected by Beverley Nichols in 1919, who produced the opening issue entirely by himself. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Beverley Nichols (1898–1983) was a British writer. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

“…the great fact remains that Oxford is still here, a little dazed and unsteady perhaps, but Oxford all the same, and it is to sing of Oxford that The Isis appears once more, to reflect its every tendency, to echo its laughter and – well, to do the other thing.” (Beverley Nichols in his opening editorial, 1919)

In the 1920s, The Isis was every Oxford socialite's indispensable accessory. Brideshead Revisited's Sebastian Flyte dismisses Isis scornfully, even though Evelyn Waugh himself contributed to the magazine regularly. Waugh was also the first to participate in the rivalry between The Isis and the freshly-established Cherwell (now more of a brother than an an-arch enemy), by writing for both. Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... The 1920s was a decade sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Brideshead Revisited, the Sacred and Profane Memories of Capt. ... Evelyn Waugh, as photographed in 1940 by Carl Van Vechten Arthur Evelyn St. ... Cherwell newspaper is a student newspaper published by and for students of Oxford University. ...

The 1930s were, a time of much political turmoil in Europe, were strangely serene in Isis, but then, so were they in the rest of England's press. A couple of articles more flippant than political in tone got Isis banned from Germany in 1935. Only a year later, the magazine had again to suspend its operations until 1945, to reemerge with new strength and with no rivals on sale. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... European redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

The late Fifties were a very lively period for Isis. Participating in the lively debate on the H-Bomb in 1958, the magazine published a piece by William Miller and Paul Thompson, both ex-national service undergraduates, revealing British Intelligence operations in Russia. After the revelations were swooped by the national press, the pair found themselves prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act. The new editor, Dennis Potter, continued with this affair, which eventually led to Isis getting into quite a bit of trouble. As result, the proprietors at Holywell Press saw the need to step in, with the objection that the staff was now "definitely left-wing and will almost inevitably remain so." The proprietors' attempt to appoint an external editor had failed, leading to a staff walk-out. The battle of wills continued for over two years, in which the magazine sharpened its political edge and, eventually, in 1963, the firm concluded that they could no longer bear the responsibility for the magazine. The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 km (11 mi) above the epicenter. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... William Miller or Bill Miller may refer to: Bill Miller (athlete) (b. ... Paul Thompson born in Newcastle on 13 May 1951 he went to live in Jarrow at the age of six months. ... National Service in the 20th century referred primarily to conscription for military service. ... Intelligence (abbreviated or ) is the process and the result of gathering information and analyzing it to answer questions or obtain advance warnings needed to plan for the future. ... Official Secrets Act warning sign, Foulness. ... Liber Amoris Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935—7 June 1994) was a controversial British dramatist who is best known for several widely acclaimed television dramas which mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

A cover from Trinity Term 1981.

The first of the many miracle rescues came in the shape of a millionaire socialist, Robert Maxwell and his Pergamon Press in Oxford. In a risky business move, Isis National begun distribution in 1964. The new enterprise lacked solid editorial direction and left Cambridge and London unimpressed; the national was quickly withdrawn. Image File history File links Isis_magazine_trinity_1981. ... Image File history File links Isis_magazine_trinity_1981. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Robert Maxwell Ian Robert Maxwell MC (June 10, 1923 – November 5, 1991), British media proprietor, rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing business. ... Pergamon Press was a United Kingdom based publishing house, founded by Robert Maxwell, which published general science books. ... Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Throughout this time, the magazine began to be crammed with interviews with pop stars and chit-chat. A 1965 editor, Andrew Lawson, decided to 'sod the general reader' and decided that Isis should be: 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

"... a soap box on which committed people can stand up and YELL. Only when its articles are inspired by passion can this magazine begin to be of interest to its readers. To reverse this priority in an attempt to court the whole undergraduate population would involve us in a futile struggle with Oxford's extremes of cynicism and apathy."

The cover of Isis magazine's Michaelmas 2003 issue.

1970 marked the departure of the magazine's second owner, making Isis an entirely independent and student-run company. The 'University' tag was scrapped and Isis was distributed to the Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) as well. Soon enough, the lack of a financial backer lead to cutting the frequency by half, and Isis began to appear once a fortnight. The following decades were laced with financial crises, the worst of which was a thousand-pound printing bill in 1972 and no cash to cover it with. Again, a rescue squad appeared from the most unlikely source in form of this telegram: Image File history File links The cover of ISIS magazines Michaelmas 2003 issue. ... Image File history File links The cover of ISIS magazines Michaelmas 2003 issue. ... Michaelmas (pronounced ) or the Feast of Ss. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Oxford Brookes is a public university in Oxfordshire, England. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

"Read of your financial troubles in The Times STOP One thousand pounds will be en route as soon as you cable us name and address of printers at the Granotel Rome - Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton"

The upshot of the independence was the need to re-think the design the magazine in order to incorporate advertising and an involvement of a business team (these issues were before worried about by the proprietors).

In 1998, after a series of growing financial crises, Isis Publications Ltd were absorbed by Oxford Student Publications Ltd (OSPL), the publishers of Cherwell and another independent student company with a history similar to that of Isis. In 2002 a generous grant from a former editor Nigella Lawson helped the magazine in its financial difficulties; at this point a sustainable business model incorporating advertising was already being formulated. Today, Isis is a termly cultural and literary magazine which maintains itself through the support of OSPL and advertising revenue. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Oxford Student Publications Limited Oxford Student Publications Ltd or OSPL, is an independent student publishing house in Oxford that publishes the reknowned Cherwell student newspaper and the award-winning ISIS student magazine. ... Cherwell newspaper is a student newspaper published by and for students of Oxford University. ... The Honourable Nigella Lucy Lawson (born 6 January 1960) is a British journalist, cookery writer and television presenter. ...

Sources

• Pierre d'Alancaisez at Isis Online
• Billen, Andrew and Skipworth, Mark. Oxford Type. Robson Books, 1984.

External links

• Isis Online
• Oxford Student Publications Ltd

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