Remarking the dearth of research into the study of English literature, the authors introduce their own investigation into the attitudes towards literature, and the reading preferences, of 1,000 ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level pupils. The pupils put a high value on the subject and demonstrated a high degree of involvement. Television did not appear to have supplanted literature as a source of satisfaction, and a large majority of respondents favoured close textual study. Many students indicated a willingness to extend their own leisure reading, but there was hostility to some set texts, and different teaching approaches were also a crucial factor in engaging the pupils’ commitment.