Editing Louis MacNeice (section)

===School, 1917–1926===
MacNeice was generally happy at Sherborne, which gave an education concentrating on the [[Classics]] (Greek and Latin) and literature (including the memorising of poetry). He was an enthusiastic sportsman, something which continued when he moved to [[Marlborough College]] in 1921, having won a classical scholarship. Marlborough was a less happy place, with a hierarchical and sometimes cruel social structure, but MacNeice's interest in ancient literature and civilisation deepened and expanded to include [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian]] and [[Norse mythology]]. In 1922, he was invited to join Marlborough's secret 'Society of Amici'<ref>''Paths of Progress: A History of Marlborough College'' by Rt Hon Peter Brooke MP and Thomas Hinde</ref> where he was a contemporary of [[John Betjeman]] and [[Anthony Blunt]], forming a lifelong friendship with the latter. He also wrote poetry and essays for the school magazines.<ref name="BBC1">{{Cite book|last=Stallworthy|first=Jon|title=Louis MacNeice|publisher=Faber|year=1995|isbn=0-571-16019-0|location=London|pages=480}}</ref> By the end of his time at the school, MacNeice was sharing a study with Blunt and also sharing his aesthetic tastes, though not his sexual ones; Blunt said MacNeice was "totally, irredeemably heterosexual". In November 1925, MacNeice was awarded a [[scholarship|postmastership]] to [[Merton College, Oxford]],<ref name="MCreg">{{cite book|editor1-last=Levens|editor1-first=R.G.C.|title=Merton College Register 1900-1964|date=1964|publisher=Basil Blackwell|location=Oxford|page=184}}</ref> and he left Marlborough in the summer of the following year. He left behind his birth name of Frederick, his accent and his father's faith, although he never lost a sense of his Irishness;<ref Name="PF"/> (the BBC radio premiere of MacNeice's ''[[The Dark Tower (radio play)|The Dark Tower]]'' in January 1946, was preceded by the poet's ten-minute introduction in his distinctive [[Ulster]] accent.)<ref>The broadcast was repeated on BBC Radio 3 May 27, 2020, including MacNeice's introduction.</ref>