The premise of this book is very interesting, as it traces the conversations that take place in one Oxford common room over centuries, at intervals of 50 years each, starting with the year 1588, the just before war with Spain and the Armada, and ending in 1938, when World War II is approaching. The reader (along with the narrator) gets to hear what questions and ideas are being debated in the university during each time and compare them with those in other times. Prominent among the subjects are questions of church and state, the relationship between them, Catholic vs. Protestant ideas, university politics, the changing role of the university, and, of course, occasional jabs at its rival, Cambridge.
The (fictional) Oxford college where the book is set is humorously named after Simon Magus, a Biblical figure who converted to Christianity, not because he believed its teachings, but because he wanted to acquire the ability to perform miracles. He thought the Apostles would confer this power upon him if he offered them money. Simony is named for him and he was known as the first heretic.
You do have to be familiar with the events of English history from 1588-1938 to get the most out of this book. Chapters set during times I knew something about (like 1588 and the victory over the Spanish Armada, the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the loss of the American colonies) were the ones I enjoyed the most. The ones set during times I knew less about, like the early 1700's, I could not appreciate as much.
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