Our capable detail master

Mark has a brief
announcement to make . . .

Thanks Mark!

Site of the Burning of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley

"Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man, for we shall this day light such a candle in England as I trust by God's grace shall never be put out."

Settling in to Oxford

The past few days have presented a wealth of experiences--from the mundane (doing laundry communally--now there is a bonding experience!) to the sublime (requesting books in the Duke Humphrey Library). But far from settling in to a quiet academic life, there is a buzz about Oxford with the filming of the Philip Pullman novel, His Dark Materials. There are thick bundles of cables running through the lane from St. Edmund hall to the Bodleian Library, an instant Victorian scene created by pouring gravel onto the lane, and a strange dirigible light set-up that floats eerily in the night sky.

Yesterday, we all recited our pledge at the Bodleian not to remove, mark, deface or injure in any way the materials in the library and--most important--"not to bring into the Library or kindle therein any fire of flame, and not to smoke in the library." So far, at least as far as we know, all the members of the group have adhered to their solemn pledge. Erika even took the pledge in Latin!

Today we had a tour of Oxford University Press, heroic publishers of the quixotic and much beloved Oxford English Dictionary. James Murray took on this vast project in its initial stage. It is amazing that this icon of scholarship is based on thousands of slips of handwritten notes from hundreds of scholars. Murray's eleven children helped organize and alphabetize the entries! Though scholarship seems monumental, it is also so human and so ephemeral. Our fearless leaders, John and Jim, took a turn at the press.

Settling in to Oxford

This past weekend was the 50th anniversary of the establishment of St. Edmund as an independent college. There were gala events, complete with ball gowns and tuxedos. A new sculpture in honor of St. Edmund was unveiled in the college "garden," a quiet grassy area and cemetery in front of the library. Karl joins St. Edmund in his reading on the bench.

Teri Borus's new edition of Shakespeare's Hamlet is now in print and available at your local Blackwell's. The editor will sign copies upon request!

Finally, a very happy birthday to Michael who celebrated his birthday in both a youthful and adult way. Michael rented himself a red bike on the occasion of his birthday and topped off the day with a beer (or two) at a local pub. Many happy returns of the day, Michael.

Lastly, this blog is certainly an example of the shfting expectations of the author. I started the blog for my family, re-shaped it for colleagues, and now find that the audience has widened to include my fellow "seminarians" and their families and friends. Feel free to blur the authorial border by adding comments or sending me photos you'd like to add to the site.

St. Edmund Hall, Oxford

We are staying in St. Edmund Hall, one of the colleges of Oxford University. We had an incredible tour of that shrine of libraries, the Bodleian Library of Oxford University. Dr. Vaisey, Director Emeritus, regaled us with stories of candles being lit (that reader was never allowed back!), of a manuscript being tipped off a conveyor belt onto a pool of oil on the floor, and of the initial funding of the library and the rich history of building and expansion of this library that serves the scholars of the world. The architectural style of this part of the library is English Perpendicular which allows for these lovely long windows to let in the light. Before electricity, the scholars had to work by natural light alone as no candles were allowed!

Brugge and Caxton

Here in Brugges, William Caxton first learned the business and craft of printing. And here, too, he produced, in 1475, the first printed book in English (Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye). Brugge is a lovely small city that retained its cobblestone streets and medieval architecture. Canals threaad their way through the city.

I took this photo of a typical buidling in the city--perhaps Caxton lived in such a home?

NEH Summer Seminar (Reformation of the Book) Participants in front of the Erasmus House