The Mays Literary Anthology

The Mays is an anthology of new writing by students from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. In 1993, when Peter Ho Davies, Adrian Woolfson, and Ron Dimant came up with the original concept for the Mays, the publication was split into two separate anthologies -- one devoted to prose and the other to poetry. The Mays has since become a single publication. The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The University of Cambridge (more often called Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

Each year the Mays receives hundreds of submissions from students in Oxford and Cambridge. In 2006 the Mays received a record 1,100 entries. The Editorial Committee (composed of students from both universities) review the submissions during Lent Term.

The Mays is broader in scope than most university literary projects: It is sold nationwide; it is distributed to every major literary agent; each year a guest editor -- usually a prominent author -- writes an introduction to the anthology. Previous guest editors include Stephen Fry (1994), Ted Hughes (1995), Andrew Motion (2002), Nick Cave (2002), Ali Smith (2003), Phillip Pullman (2004), and Robert Macfarlane (2005). Stephen Fry on the cover of his autobiography (US Edition) Stephen John Fry (born 24 August, 1957) is an English comedian, author, actor and director. ... Edward James Hughes, OM, referred to normally as Ted Hughes, (August 17, 1930 – October 28, 1998) was an English poet and childrens writer. ... Professor Andrew Motion (born October 26, 1952) is an English poet, novelist and biographer who is the current Poet Laureate. ... Nick Cave on the cover of the album The Boatmans Call Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian rock musician, songwriter, poet, author, actor and screenwriter, best known for his work in rock and roll band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and his fascination with... Ali Smith is a writer, born in 1962 in Inverness, Scotland, to working class parents. ... Philip Pullman Philip Pullman, (born October 19, 1946) is an English writer, educated at Exeter College, Oxford, who is the best-selling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy of fantasy novels and a number of other books, purportedly for children, but attracting increasing attention by adult readers. ... Robert Macfarlane, (born 15 August 1976), is a travel writer, cultural historian, and literary critic. ...

The Mays is most famous for launching the career of novelist Zadie Smith. Literary agencies first took notice of Smith after her story "Private Tutor" appeared in the 1997 collection. Smith guest edited the Mays in 2001. Her quip "maybe in a few years this lot will have me out of a job" has become a catch phrase for the publication. Zadie Smith Zadie Smith (born October 27, 1975) is a British novelist. ...

The Mays is published with Varsity Publications Limited, which publishes Varsity (Cambridge), a weekly newspaper. The Varsity trust helps meet the cost of publication, as do various Oxford and Cambridge colleges. The Mays also has an informal relationship with International Creative Management (ICM). Varsity is the older of Cambridge Universitys main student newspapers (The Cambridge Student is the other, younger, one). ... International Creative Management, Inc. ...

Recent student Editors include:

Mark Richards and James Purdon (2004)

Jonathan Beckman and Arthur House (2005)

Torsten Henricson-Bell, Juliet Lapidos, and Imogen Walford (2006)

External Links:

http://www.varsity.co.uk/mays

http://www.varsity.co.uk

http://www.cherwell.org