I have been working for the history department this summer collecting and citing historical bibliographies and document collections for their online database. This seemingly boring summer job, however, allows me to indulge in my nerdy guilty pleasure of spending hours perusing old and varied books. My inner bibliophile cannot resist making two piles: one of books to cite and one of unique finds for the day. I know how geeky this sounds, but sometimes you find real treasures. For example, below is an early 1900s pilgrimage account of a woman who travelled to several New England inns. Sounded quaint, so I pulled it form the shelf and opened it to a random page.
I for one love Harry Potter-esque tavern and inn signs with old English sounding names and that just so happened to be what this entry was about. However, it actually gave kind of a fascinating insight to the quirky names of Colonial inns. East coast taverns may have historical and political origins, but my favourite so far is Portland’s own ‘The Leaky Roof’.
The second unique find today was the egyptian Book of Kings written mostly in hieroglyphics. This book was also published in the early 1900s.
Lastly, a book on Medieval French court life and the muses and so called “favourites” of members of the Royal family. The book, published in the late 1800s I believe (however the original copy dates back to the 1400-1500s), had this forward from its court hired author. It had so much character and personality for a mere translator’s note that it felt like something from a storybook.
Here is an english translation:
” The Translator to the Reader:
Behold here a history compiled by one of the most able, and (let me testify thus much) one of the most moderate and impartial pens of Europe. It was fitted for the hand of a king; and is the life of one whom his own actions will declare to have better deserved the name of Great than that proud Macedonian who wept that he had no more worlds to conquer. For though he gained not such signal victories, nor overran so many countries, yet he was possessed of more virtues than the other cities; and virtue is the fairest mother of true greatness. But reader, I forestall thy delight in its reading: go on, therefore, but with deliberation.
J.D”
Not bad for a Tuesday morning at work.
this is really awesome. Man, I would be totally useless there. I mean I think I would be hiding somewhere in the back bookshelves with my hands filled hoping that noone would actually “bother” me. NOt a bad job at all
Love you