Third Day of Advent

O is for Orange – good, eaten in reason, P for Plum Pudding, the crown of the season. From “Father Christmas’ ABC” illustrated by Alfred J. Johnson, published by F. Warne & Co., 1894 I love the bright, cheerful warmth of this illustration – I can almost smell the tangy scent of those oranges. Is…

Second Day of Advent

Come to the window, little folks, And read these tiny Story-books! From ‘Snow-Flakes and the Stories they Told the Children’, by Matilda Betham-Edwards, illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz), published ca. 1862   This is my personal favourite, it’s by Phiz, Dickens’ illustrator. I love his pictures full of charming, quirky detail. The elves in…

Discovering Tower Treasures

Photograph of Cambridge University Library tower courtesy of Claire Richards

What’s really housed in Cambridge University Library’s fabled 17 storey tower? Contrary to a popular notion among students, the tower is not packed with pornography (Neville Chamberlain did rather unfortunately refer to the tower as ‘this magnificent erection’) but you might be surprised to learn that it houses a remarkable collection of so called ‘ephemera’…

The Average Boy

“When stress of weather, or the coming of long winter evenings, or any other reason gives the indoor part of life a larger importance, this indoor handy book will be found an invaluable companion.” If your children are bored being cooped up at home under the current lockdown, this may well be the book for…