Backgrounds Quote by Deborah Smith
“I did my BA in English lit, and hated the restriction - I'd always read more in translation than not; coming from a working-class background, what I knew of as British literature - the writers who made big prize lists and/or were stocked in WH Smith, Doncaster's only bookshop until I was 17 - seemed incredibly, alienatingly middle-class. Then in 2009, just after the financial crash, I graduated with no more specific skill than 'can analyse a bit of poetry'.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Unknown, possibly personal narrative
Class barriers can alienate readers; personal background influences literary taste and access.
In simple terms: Class affects reading choices.
Key Takeaway
Explore diverse voices.
Themes
class
literature
identity
access
diversity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
thoughtful
When to use this quote
- college experience
- reading habits
- career planning
Key Concepts
sociology
education
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your background shape your reading?
- What can broaden literary access?
A Different Perspective
Class constraints may limit exposure to varied literature.
![“Whenever I visit Korea she [Kang] buys me lunch and takes me to a gallery. As if all this wasn't enough, she has incredible respect for translation as a creative, artistic practice - she insists that each English version is 'our book', offered to share her fees with me when she found out I wasn't…” quote by Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/851/deborah-smith-13837_artistic_whenever-i-visit-korea-she-kang-buys-me_1261446.jpg)
