Student years Stella Gibbons

the ucl building in gower street, london

while @ school, gibbons formed ambition writer, , on leaving in 1921 began two-year diploma in journalism @ university college, london (ucl). course had been established ex-servicemen returning first world war, attracted several women, among them future novelist elizabeth bowen. english literature, curriculum covered economics, politics, history, science , languages; practical skills such shorthand , typing not included.

after stifling experience of school, gibbons found university exhilarating , made numerous friendships, particularly ida graves, aspiring poet who, although on different course, attended of same lectures. 2 shared love of literature , taste subversive humour. graves lived until 1999, , recalled in interview late in life many of jokes shared found way cold comfort farm, did of common acquaintances. after gibbons began course contributed poem, marshes of soul , december 1921 issue of university college magazine. parody, in newly fashionable vers libre style, first published literary work. during next 2 years contributed further poems , prose magazine, including doer, story in russian manner , foreshadows later novels in both theme , style. gibbons completed course in summer of 1923, , awarded diploma.