Exploring the world of books at Oxford
One Wednesday afternoon, Week 1 of Trinity term 2022, I was perusing through the Digital Bodleian database. Having finally set aside the time for Emma Huber’s Taylor Edition course, I was in search of a text to edit. When I first came across Douce MM 493, my interest was instantly piqued with its printed illustrations and hagiographical …
What does it mean to read and write? For the Tudor educationalist Richard Mulcaster, the answer can be summarised in a single word: everything. Reading and writing are far more than simple practical skills, and form for Mulcaster the vital building blocks of a good education. Acquiring them, though, embroils us in a kind of …
by Charlotte Ross Manuscript decoration enhanced the appearance of a text, increasing the value of the book and bringing a sense of status. The most illustriously decorated manuscripts ooze wealth and sophistication, acting as a statement of the owner’s importance. Even within the manuscript itself, these decorations establish a hierarchy amongst the text, identifying the …