Perse English students savour New York literary feast

Perse Sixth Form English students embarked on an unforgettable trip to New York City this half term, exploring the rich cultural heritage of American literature.

The visit began at Ellis Island, where students traced the footsteps of millions of immigrants who arrived seeking new lives in the United States. The group learned about the hopes, hardships and resilience that shaped modern America.

This theme continued at the Tenement Museum, where a guided tour brought to life the story of a Jewish immigrant family and their experience of life on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century.

Students immersed themselves in New York’s vibrant theatre scene, watching a Broadway performance of Ragtime, a musical that powerfully explores race, class and the pursuit of the American Dream.

A literary-themed walking tour of Midtown and Greenwich Village rounded off the trip, uncovering the haunts and inspirations of celebrated writers such as F Scott Fitzgerald.

The experience helped bring literary figures to life and also enriched their A level study, deepening their understanding of the social and cultural contexts that shaped the period of American literature from 1880-1940.