The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green

Bradley himself had attended University College, Durham (whence his pseudonym[1]), graduating BA in 1848, but then went to Oxford for a year or so, studying to enter the church.

Though Verdant Green has become something of a cult book about Oxford, Bradley had previously produced a series of pen-and-ink drawings entitled "Ye freshmonne his adventures at University College, Durham".

Hippolyte Taine in his Notes sur l'Angleterre (1872) drew on Bradley's 'Oxford' book for his description of English university life.

The location of "Honeywood Hall" has not been identified, but the party visits Warkworth, Alnwick, and Chillingham Castle to see the wild cattle.

Bradley clearly knew the area well and paints an attractive picture of the wild landscape and the pleasures of riding, al fresco meals and neighbourly contact, the warmer for being more difficult than in crowded Midland counties.