By far one of the most beautiful plays I've had the pleasure to read. Meticulously blending together all of my interests into a witty, amusing, yet also heartbreaking piece: Stoppard has captured my heart. I'm surprised I wasn't made aware of him sooner. The worlds of different times folded into one another, breathed, drifting in and out and away on Charon's boat. An old Housman seeing a young Jackson and feeling the tug of his heartstrings all over again "Mo...!". Scenes of a schoolboy crush and scenes of shattering heartbreak. Layers and layers of references you have to peel apart. I found myself subconsciously imitating Stoppard's style in an essay I happened to be writing alongside my perusal of this play. Housman is one of my most beloved poets, and this play is an exquisite testament to his life.

In some places a bit too clever, still, it captures the mood of witty Oxford conversation, youthful earnest brain cracking, and later puzzlement and bitterness excellently. Another good piece by Stoppard; not on par with the greatest and the most entertaining ones - my favourites are Guildenstern and Rosencrantz Must Die; Travesties; and Arcadia - but a good one nevertheless. Also, educating as Stoppard always is, and very motivating to dust off some high quality older literature.

Play-reading group read. Nothing happens, people just talk a lot, but still a very remarkable play. All about A.E. Housman and Oscar Wiled and gay rights. I know I missed many of the references (it's all references!), but I caught many, and others were glossed by people in the group. I know we'll do it again in the future.

as an academic, i wonder about love