We welcomed Professor Murray Biggs, of Yale University, to the English department on Tuesday afternoon to give a talk on revenge in Renaissance drama to pupils studying English Literature A Level. He gave a fascinating overview of the role of revenge and the core ingredients of revenge drama of the period, and then linked them to the three texts that the pupils are studying across the two year groups.

Professor Biggs was born in Kent, and although he has worked in the USA for most of his life, he still has family here, and his great-nephew recently left Sutton Valence School. The pupils were very appreciative of his expertise on the topic, and his offer to come to the School to share his enthusiasm. The choicest of his words of wisdom will no doubt be quoted in their exam answers on Shakespeare, as pupils must refer to critics as part of the assessment!