The Mays is an anthology of new writing by students from Oxford and 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 Mays is much grander 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, Ted Hughes, Zadie Smith, Andrew Motion, Nick Cave, Ali Smith, Sebastian Faulks, Seamus Heaney, Jeanette Winterson and Don Paterson. In 1994 Stephen Fry called the Mays “magnetically readable, memorable and moving”. In 2001, Zadie Smith joked, “maybe in a few years this lot will have me out of a job”.
Each year the Mays receives hundreds of submissions from students in Oxford and Cambridge. The Editorial Committee (composed of students from both universities) reviews the submissions during Lent Term and the current guest editor helps with the final selection process. The anthology reaches bookstores in late spring each year.
Mays 15 is available to buy online. For past issues please contact business@varsity.co.uk.