The English Experience

A Novel

By: Julie Schumacher

Narrated by: Julie Schumacher

A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Beleaguered Professor Jason Fitger chaperones Payne University’s annual “Experience: Abroad” to London and beyond, with eleven undergrads in tow • The bestselling author of Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement completes her hilarious trilogy of academic mishap

“Wise and hilarious and heartbreaking.”—Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls

Jason Fitger may be the last faculty member the dean wants for the job, but he’s the only professor available to chaperone Payne University’s annual “Experience: Abroad” (he has long been on the record objecting to the absurd and gratuitous colon between the words) occurring during the three weeks of winter term. Among his charges are a claustrophobe with a juvenile detention record, a student who erroneously believes he is headed for the Caribbean, a pair of unreconciled lovers, a set of undifferentiated twins, and one young woman who has never been away from her cat before.

Through a sea of troubles—personal, institutional, and international—the gimlet-eyed, acid-tongued Fitger strives to navigate safe passage for all concerned, revealing much about the essential need for human connection and the sometimes surprising places in which it is found.

©2023 Julie Schumacher (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year by LitHub

“Schumacher’s skewering of academia remains sharp as ever… fans of the first two entries will find much to like here… [a] worthy final adventure.”—BookPage

"Julie Schumacher’s novel completes her trilogy of biting send-ups of academia, starring a hapless English professor...the perfect back-to-school novel for cynics."—The Washington Post

“Comfortably sitting alongside classic academic satires such as Kingsley Amis’ Lucky Jim and David Lodge’s Changing Places, Schumacher's trilogy brilliantly skewers the soulless, administrator-led world of contemporary universities, concluding with this edifying and satisfying novel.”—Booklist

Laughed Out Loud

What's worse? Being on a 3 week study abroad with a substitute prof, or being that substitute prof?

How Can Three Parts of a Trilogy Be So Different?

I listen to all three in succession, and in the correct order. It is remarkable how different they are, though the agony humor persists throughout. I liked each of them in its own way.

Well written, intelligent story, liked it a lot

The story kept my attention, it was well crafted, well written and humorous. The author writes well and the plot moved along quickly. I liked the approach of relaying information through students’ essays as well as the protagonist’s internal monologue and his frustration at his students’ grammatical choices.

Unfortunately the author as narrator of the essays was hard to listen to. What is probably an attempt to verbalize poor punctuation in essays comes across as a put-upon, hesitant vocal style as if speaking for morons. The essays were narrated in a maddening monotone with run-on sentences that the reader could have inferred if they were just read in a normal voice. Protagonist’s ex-wife’s voice was also insufferable, bitter, negative, done in an over the top cadence and tone.

Overall a wonderful read, written by a great author, which would have been more enjoyable without the verbal theatrics.

Witty, sad, insight, hope

The English Experience diverges from the usual study abroad story in its approach and rich character development. A Canterbury Tales cast of student characters and their hapless professor spend three weeks in England.Each character tells his or her own tale largely through the almost daily essays they are required to write. Highly recommended for anyone who has participated, whether as student, teacher, guide or hanger on.

Fun and touching

Well-written and enjoyable. I wish more contemporary fiction was like this - engaging, thoughtful, and not afraid to be funny.

Even better than the previous!

Like Schumacher’s first book, this is an observant and funny take on US higher education. But I also found it very sweet and touching—not sappy but generous and kind about our human struggles, both faculty and students’.

Soooo GOOD

This book is so good. Funny. Poignant. Charming. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the joy.

Funny and Endearing

Coming of age and coming to terms. The author is such a good reader (and writer.) if you liked this also listen/read Elif Batuman’s The Idiot. Both took me back to my clueless early adulthood, and to the educators who suffered us.

A lovely listen.

Funny, insightful, and real. Great characters with amazing issues - all resolved, maybe?? Loved the cat poem!

Creative, engaging, amusing and unpredictable. A gem.

Creative, engaging, amusing and unpredictable. A gem. I really enjoyed this story. I think you will too.