A.S. Byatt reflects on the shift in the atmosphere surrounding universities, noting that during the peak of the campus novel genre, universities were filled with optimism and absurdity could be embraced. Authors could depict characters and situations that reveled in farcical circumstances, reflecting a more carefree academic environment.

In contrast, today's academic landscape is characterized by fear and anxiety. With mounting financial pressures, excessive scrutiny, and overwhelming bureaucratic demands, universities have become places where hope is diminished. This transformation has impacted the way academics and literature engage with university life, shifting away from humor and lightheartedness to more serious and challenging narratives.