Review of Real Characters: A Tip of the Hat to Nonconformity by David Lyle Jeffrey

 Jeffrey, David Lyle. Real Characters: A Tip of the Hat to Nonconformity. Front Porch Republic. 2020. 

Before this book I only knew Prof. Jeffrey through the reference book he edited, A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature, and the occasional article in the monthly First Things. In Real Characters, Prof. Jeffrey introduces us to his life through stories about some of the interesting and unconventional people he met and knew in his youth and adulthood in the Ottawa Valley in Canada as well as in his days as student at Wheaton College, Princeton University and as a Professor.

The most touching of his stories is about Laird Hamilton, his dear friend since the age of 16. Their friendship lasted until Laird died from cancer. Both Laird and Jeffrey were Christians and careful students of the Bible. While Jeffrey went on to college and graduate school, Laird remained on the family farm. Jeffrey writes with admiration about the impact his friend had on his community and how he continued his education through books and personal study.

Two teachers significantly impacted Jeffrey. The first is Pop Shaver. Mr. Shaver taught mathematics and English to an all boys class. These were boys who regularly got into trouble in school and in the community. Jeffrey was one of those difficult fellows. Mr. Shaver grabbed their attention and taught them to use their brains, memorizing math equations and English texts. Friday was recitation day for poetry that was memorized. The length of the poem grew with every week.

Before they knew it, Shaver got them engaged in learning. School was demanding and became the good educational experience it was supposed to be. Jeffrey attributes his future life as an English professor to Shaver. Other men speak of how Shaver saved their lives. If it was was not for him, they would be in prison, dead, or stuck in a going-no-where job.

Jeffrey offers a testament to the transforming role of an exceptional teacher. Sadly, Jeffrey notes, many of Shaver's educational practices would not be tolerated today.

The other influential teacher is Prof. D. W. Robertson, Jr. at Princeton University. He was a Chaucer scholar. The intellectual rigor Robertson demanded of his students was immense. Jeffrey admits he did not always enjoy the process, but he knows his scholarship would not be what it is today if it was not for Robertson's demands.

Jeffrey has met a number of exceptional people over the years. His chapter on Philip and the Two Jacks is about his experiences as the 1970-71 Reckett and Coleman Visiting Professor at the University of Hull. There he became friends with Philip Larkin and two historians, John Kenyon and Jack Watt. When Jeffrey was first introduced to Larkin, it was as the University Librarian. It was not until several weeks later that one of the Jacks let it slip that he was a published poet. Jeffrey was embarrassed that he did not know Larkin's work and immediately rectified that deficiency. But, what really connected Larkin and Jeffrey was jazz.

This was volume was a delight to read. Apparently Jeffrey has told stories about these people to family and friends for years. He finally obeyed the urgings of his family to write the stories down and publish them for the amusement and edification of all. I am glad he did.