A list of 51 novels about professors

  1. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

    This classic satire follows the misadventures of Jim Dixon, a junior history lecturer at a provincial English university. Dixon struggles comically against academic pretension, social hypocrisy, and his own haplessness in a sharp critique of mid-20th-century British academia and its class tensions.

  2. Giles Goat-Boy by John Barth

    A sprawling satirical allegory in which the university campus represents the entire world. The protagonist, George Giles, raised as a goat, embarks on a quest for knowledge and enlightenment, navigating institutional chaos in a postmodern exploration of identity, heroism, and societal structures.

  3. The Dean's December by Saul Bellow

    Albert Corde, a respected Chicago academic and dean, travels to communist Romania with his wife for a family crisis. The novel presents an introspective meditation on personal and societal decay, contrasting the complexities of modern America with the grim realities of Eastern European communism.

  4. Herzog by Saul Bellow

    Professor Moses Herzog, overwhelmed by a personal and professional crisis, writes passionate, unsent letters to friends, family, and famous thinkers. The narrative examines themes of intellectual restlessness, alienation in modern life, and the human quest for meaning amid emotional turmoil.

  5. Professor Romeo by Anne Bernays

    Jacob Barker is a charismatic English professor whose life unravels after he engages in an intense affair with a student. The novel offers a keen exploration of moral ambiguity, the power dynamics inherent in academia, and the consequences of blurring personal and professional boundaries.

  6. The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury

    Set in a new university in the early 1970s, this satirical novel centers on Howard Kirk, a radical sociology professor who manipulates colleagues and students alike. Bradbury offers a sharp critique of academic opportunism, intellectual fads, and the politics of campus life.

  7. The Professor by Charlotte Brontë

    Brontë’s first novel follows William Crimsworth, a young Englishman who becomes a teacher in Brussels. There he navigates professional rivalries, cultural differences, and romantic interests, exploring themes of self-reliance, ambition, and integrity within the constraints of nineteenth-century society.

  8. Possession by A.S. Byatt

    Two contemporary academics, Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, uncover a clandestine romance between two Victorian poets. The novel blends mystery, romance, and literary detective work, exploring themes of obsession, scholarly rivalry, and the ways personal desires shape intellectual pursuits.

  9. The Professor's House by Willa Cather

    Professor Godfrey St. Peter, an accomplished academic, finds himself in a period of introspection and disillusionment following the completion of his life's work. Cather explores themes of memory, materialism, and the conflict between intellectual fulfillment and personal attachments.

  10. Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon

    Grady Tripp, a disillusioned novelist and creative writing professor, struggles with an unfinished manuscript and a chaotic personal life. The novel delves into artistic stagnation, mentorship, and midlife crisis with sharp wit and nuance, capturing the humorous realities of the literary world.

  11. My Education by Susan Choi

    Regina Gottlieb, a graduate student, is drawn into an intense and transformative affair with the charismatic wife of her professor. The novel offers a nuanced portrayal of youthful passion, power dynamics in academia, and the lasting emotional consequences of choices made in early adulthood.

  12. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

    David Lurie, a university professor in post-apartheid South Africa, is dismissed after an affair with a student. Retreating to his daughter’s farm, he confronts the new nation’s shifting power dynamics, prompting profound reflections on shame, redemption, and human vulnerability.

  13. Elizabeth Costello by J.M. Coetzee

    An aging Australian novelist, Elizabeth Costello, travels the world to deliver lectures on literature, philosophy, and animal rights. The novel is structured as a series of philosophical encounters that explore complex themes of morality, the nature of evil, and the limits of reason.

  14. Death in a Tenured Position by Amanda Cross

    Academic sleuth Kate Fansler investigates the suspicious death of the first tenured female professor in Harvard’s male-dominated English department. The mystery delves into themes of feminism, gender bias, and the professional and personal conflicts faced by women in patriarchal institutions.

  15. White Noise by Don DeLillo

    Jack Gladney, a professor of Hitler studies at a liberal arts college, finds his suburban life disrupted by the “Airborne Toxic Event.” Through dark humor, the novel explores consumerism, media saturation, and the pervasive anxieties of modern American society.

  16. The Lecturer's Tale by James Hynes

    After a bizarre accident involving a severed finger, insecure English lecturer Nelson Humboldt gains the mysterious power to influence his colleagues. This satirical tale uses magical realism to examine ambition, power struggles, and ethical dilemmas within contemporary academia.

  17. Publish and Perish by James Hynes

    This collection of interwoven novellas satirizes the intense pressures of academic life. Using elements of gothic horror and farce, Hynes explores the destructive power of professional jealousy, intellectual vanity, and the desperate scramble for tenure and recognition.

  18. Pictures from an Institution by Randall Jarrell

    This witty and biting novel satirizes life at Benton, a progressive women’s college. Told from the perspective of a visiting professor, the narrative skewers the pretensions, rivalries, and intellectual follies of a tightly-knit and eccentric academic community.

  19. Changing Places by David Lodge

    In this satirical novel, British professor Philip Swallow and American professor Morris Zapp swap jobs for a semester, leading to a culture clash that disrupts both their lives. The story humorously contrasts British and American academic cultures, exploring themes of ambition, identity, and marriage.

  20. Nice Work by David Lodge

    Feminist literary theorist Robyn Penrose is assigned to shadow Vic Wilcox, the managing director of a manufacturing plant, as part of a government initiative. The novel insightfully explores the clash between academia and industry, class differences, and gender roles in Thatcher-era Britain.

  21. Small World by David Lodge

    A sequel to Changing Places, this novel follows a cast of international literature scholars as they travel the globe attending academic conferences. Lodge humorously critiques scholarly vanity and intellectual pretension while satirizing literary theory and the increasingly globalized nature of academic life.

  22. Thinks... by David Lodge

    Ralph Messenger, a cognitive scientist exploring consciousness, and Helen Reed, a novelist grieving the death of her husband, navigate their complex relationship at a British university. The novel humorously contrasts scientific and literary perspectives on thought, morality, and infidelity.

  23. A New Life by Bernard Malamud

    Seymour Levin, an idealistic New Yorker, relocates to teach at a rural college in the Pacific Northwest. As he navigates academic politics, cultural isolation, and a complicated affair, the novel explores themes of personal reinvention, moral compromise, and the search for an authentic life.

  24. The Groves of Academe by Mary McCarthy

    When literature professor Henry Mulcahy is told his contract at a small liberal arts college will not be renewed, he manufactures a web of lies to save his job. The novel satirically explores intellectual pretension, institutional politics, and the moral compromises individuals make to protect their status.

  25. Solar by Ian McEwan

    Nobel Prize-winning physicist Michael Beard is a man whose brilliant career is matched only by his chaotic and morally bankrupt personal life. This dark comedy satirizes scientific integrity, climate change politics, and ego-driven ambition as Beard attempts to save the world while ruining his own life.

  26. Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

    Timofey Pnin is an earnest and comically awkward Russian émigré professor navigating the alien landscape of an American university. Through a series of gentle and ironic episodes, Nabokov explores themes of exile, identity, and the bittersweet search for belonging.

  27. Blue Angel by Francine Prose

    Ted Swenson, a disillusioned creative writing professor, becomes dangerously entangled with a talented and charismatic student. The novel offers a sharp commentary on power dynamics, sexual politics, and artistic integrity within a politically charged campus environment.

  28. An Academic Question by Barbara Pym

    Told from the perspective of Caroline Grimstone, the wife of an ambitious young academic, this novel explores the subtle rivalries and moral dilemmas of university life. As questions of scholarly integrity surface, the narrative thoughtfully examines truth, responsibility, and the quiet complexities of marriage.

  29. Japanese by Spring by Ishmael Reed

    Benjamin "Chappie" Puttbutt, an African American professor, cynically attempts to advance his career by embracing Japanese language and culture. Through sharp satire, Reed critiques multiculturalism, political correctness, and cultural imperialism in higher education.

  30. The Human Stain by Philip Roth

    Coleman Silk, a classics professor at a New England college, resigns after being accused of racism for a misunderstood comment. The scandal unravels a lifetime of secrets, exploring themes of identity, race, and the destructive power of societal judgment.

  31. The Professor of Desire by Philip Roth

    This novel follows David Kepesh, a literature professor whose intellectual pursuits are deeply intertwined with his complicated romantic desires and personal struggles. Through Kepesh’s introspective narrative, Roth examines sexuality, fulfillment, and the tension between intellectual aspirations and carnal urges.

  32. Straight Man by Richard Russo

    William Henry Devereaux Jr. is the reluctant English department chairman at a struggling Pennsylvania college. This humorous novel captures the absurdity of academic politics, midlife crisis, and institutional dysfunction, revealing deeper truths about human frailty and resilience.

  33. The Small Room by May Sarton

    Lucy Winter, a young professor at a New England women’s college, confronts an ethical dilemma involving a brilliant but troubled student. The novel offers a thoughtful portrayal of mentorship, moral responsibility, and the intense personal and professional relationships within an intimate college community.

  34. Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

    This epistolary novel is composed entirely of recommendation letters written by Jason Fitger, a weary and curmudgeonly English professor. Through his witty and often passive-aggressive letters, Schumacher satirizes the bureaucracy, budget cuts, and absurdities of modern academic life.

  35. The Shakespeare Requirement by Julie Schumacher

    Now the chairman of the English department, Professor Jason Fitger must defend his department’s budget against the ambitions of the newly ascendant economics department. This humorous sequel to Dear Committee Members satirizes departmental feuds and the struggle to justify the liberal arts in a modern university.

  36. On Beauty by Zadie Smith

    Set in a fictional New England college town, the novel centers on the Belsey family. Howard Belsey, a white English Rembrandt scholar, is locked in a professional rivalry with his conservative Black counterpart, Monty Kipps, in a story that explores family dynamics, infidelity, and cultural politics.

  37. Professor Andersen's Night by Dag Solstad

    On Christmas Eve, Professor Andersen witnesses a disturbing event in an apartment across the street and finds himself paralyzed by indecision. The novel is a penetrating exploration of existential dread, moral responsibility, and the profound isolation of modern intellectual life.

  38. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

    This novel traces the lifelong friendship between two couples who meet in academia: Larry and Sally Morgan, and Sid and Charity Lang. Set against the backdrop of university life, the story explores ambition, marriage, and loyalty, portraying the fragility and strength of human connection over decades.

  39. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

    In 1327, the Franciscan friar and scholar William of Baskerville is tasked with investigating a series of murders at a remote Italian monastery. This historical mystery is a profound exploration of logic, intellectual inquiry, and the battle between reason and dogma, with William acting as a medieval detective-professor.

  40. The War Between the Tates by Alison Lurie

    The seemingly stable marriage of university professor Brian Tate and his wife, Erica, unravels amid the political and social turmoil of the late 1960s. Lurie’s novel satirizes academic life, marital discontent, and generational conflict with sharp, observational wit.

  41. The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies

    Set within a Canadian university, this novel follows a group of eccentric professors and scholars embroiled in a dispute over the legacy of a deceased art collector. Davies skillfully combines satire, humor, and philosophical inquiry to examine intellectual ambition, morality, and the tension between scholarly pursuits and human passions.

  42. Moo by Jane Smiley

    This sprawling satire of academic life is set at a large Midwestern agricultural university, humorously nicknamed "Moo U." Smiley weaves together the stories of faculty, administrators, and students as they navigate institutional politics, corporate interests, and personal rivalries.

  43. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

    Set over the course of a single day, this novel offers an intimate portrait of George Falconer, a gay English professor in Southern California mourning the recent death of his longtime partner. Isherwood movingly explores themes of grief, loneliness, and the search for meaning in the quiet moments of an ordinary day.

  44. The Grasshopper King by Jordan Ellenberg

    This academic satire follows Samuel Grapearbor, a professor at a struggling university, who becomes obsessed with the obscure writings of a forgotten linguistic genius. The novel blends wry humor with scholarly intrigue to explore obsession, ambition, and the absurdities inherent in academic life.

  45. Stoner by John Williams

    This novel traces the quiet life of William Stoner, an English professor at a Midwestern university. His passion for literature provides a refuge from a difficult marriage and a conflicted academic career.

    The novel is a moving meditation on the quiet resilience of an ordinary life, exploring themes of personal fulfillment, isolation, and the search for meaning in the face of disappointment.

  46. The Ivory Tower by Henry James

    In this unfinished novel, Graham Fielder, an idealistic man who has spent his life in Europe, returns to America to claim a vast inheritance. He is advised by his uncle Frank, a retired professor, on how to navigate the moral complexities and corrupting influence of wealth, exploring the tension between idealism and materialism.

  47. Campusland by Scott Johnston

    This novel satirizes modern academia, campus politics, and administrative excess at a fictional Ivy League university. When a dedicated professor finds himself at the center of a campus controversy, the story humorously critiques political correctness, media sensationalism, and the complexities of free speech in contemporary higher education.

  48. Death of the Black-Haired Girl by Robert Stone

    An affair between a respected professor and his student at an elite New England college spirals into tragedy and moral ambiguity. The novel explores themes of guilt, personal responsibility, and institutional power as characters grapple with the devastating consequences of their choices.

  49. The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas

    Ariel Manto, a doctoral student, discovers a rare and supposedly cursed Victorian novel. As she reads, she is drawn into a surreal "Troposphere" where thought becomes reality. The narrative blends literary intrigue, philosophy, and speculative science to probe questions of consciousness and perception.

  50. Antisemitism by J.M. Coetzee

    This book is a companion piece to Elizabeth Costello and features the same aging novelist as she gives a lecture that provokes a strong, unexpected reaction. The narrative takes the form of a fictionalized academic encounter, exploring complex ideas about identity, prejudice, and the nature of intellectual debate.

  51. Galatea 2.2 by Richard Powers

    An autobiographical protagonist, a novelist-in-residence at a vast university, collaborates with a cognitive scientist to train an artificial intelligence program to pass a comprehensive exam in English literature. The novel explores the intersections of AI, consciousness, memory, and what it means to be human.