The Bodleian Library is home to one of the world’s largest and oldest collections of maps, with atlases, maps, and books on cartography dating back to the fourteenth century, including many that are a
Between 1945 and 1961, an estimated 2.5 million people fled East Germany in search of the political and economic freedom offered by West Germany. To thwart this tide of defections, on the morning of
Where would Winston Churchill be without his bow-tie and V-for-victory sign, Yasser Arafat without his kefiyah, Charles de Gaulle without his kepi and cigarette, Ho Chi Minh without his long straggly
The adventures of Mole, Ratty, Mr. Toad, and Mr. Badger—and their tangles with the Weasels—have been adored by children for more than a century. Yet, with its oddly bureaucratic town drama
Veronica is your average hippopotamus with a big dream: she wants to become famous. But with so many hippopotamuses wallowing in the cool mud and swimming and splashing in the clear water along the ri
Anthony Wood (1632–95) was an English historian and antiquary best known for his books on the history and antiquities of the University of Oxford as well as Athenae Oxonienses: an Exact History of all
Where have all the royals gone? The royal houses of Europe, Africa, and Asia once ruled continents and the dominions beyond the seas. Today, only a few monarchs still reign in Europe, their powers si
When World War II drew to a close, British servicemen were sent to France to assist in the liberation and recovery of their war-ravaged ally, and a small but indispensable guidebook was packed into t
The (very) hungry goat has a big appetite that gets him into all kinds of adventures. He’ll eat anything, from pig swill to flies, bugs, and bees; from frying pans to barbed wire and the bark of
The sun is round and hot and glowing. An orange is round on the tree where it’s growing. Many things in the natural world are round—the sun, the moon, a bird’s nest with three
Throughout the late-eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, historical events were tremendously popular as adaptations for the stage. From the Revolutionary War to the French Revolution, stage dram
“Without a revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement.” So wrote Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and founder of the USSR. Lenin was profoundly aw
In 1942, the United States War Department distributed a handbook to American servicemen that advised them on the peculiarities of the "British, their country, and their ways." Over sixty years later,
Eighteenth-century London was a wonder: the second largest city in the world by 1800, its relentless growth, fueled by Britain’s expanding empire, making it a site of constant transformation. And befo
Roman playwright Publius Terentius Afer, best known as Terence, was highly regarded in the second century BC for his six comedies, such as “Adelphoe,” which focused on child-rearing, and “Andria,” whi
This beautifully illustrated book showcases the highlights of the Tolkien archives held at the Bodleian Library. From J. R. R. Tolkien’s childhood in the Midlands and his experience of the First
Heath Robinson (1872–1944) is Britain’s “Gadget King”—master of the art of creating madcap contraptions that made use of ropes, weights, and pulleys to perform relatively
To celebrate the acquisition of the archive of distinguished artist Tom Phillips, the Bodleian Library asked the artist to assemble and design a series of books drawing on his themed collection of o
Visual propaganda was one of the most effective tools in shaping public opinion in the 20th century. These colourful and eye-catching examples of the art of propaganda, collected together here for th
How were the first fonts made? Who invented italics? When did we figure out how to print in color? Many of the standard features of printed books were designed by pioneering typographers and printers
For more than three centuries, Oxford has served as a source of inspiration for fine illustrated books and engraved prints. These works hold an important place in the historical record of the city, sh
Evelyn Waugh’s Oxford years were so formative that the city never left him, appearing again and again in his novels in various forms. This book explores in rich visual detail the abiding importa
A is for all of us—everyone. Playing, learning, having fun. The letters of the alphabet are brilliantly brought to life in a bright nursery school, where the children learn and play. B i
Q is the Quadrille, danced at our partyR is for the Reindeer, of Santa Claus heartyW is for waggon laden with hollyX is for Xmas tree all light and toys jollyThe celebration of Christmas throughout hi
Every child knows that costumes are magical. Put on the right hat, add some imagination, and you can be anyone.That's what happens to a little boy in The March Wind. Finding a large black hat lying in
Fonts are everywhere. You may even have a favorite serif or sans serif. But have you ever wondered who took the bold steps to create it? Behind every great font is a great story, and, in this fascinat
Rugby has rules, seriously? Believe it or not, it does. The Original Rules of Rugby brings together the original rules of the game drawn up at Rugby School in 1845 and the first rules of the Rugby Fo
How is ink made? What is the bestselling book of all time? What are the oldest known books in the world? And how does one make sense of the colors found on Penguin paperbacks? The answers to these que
There are many things cats can do that children can’t, such as lap up milk, leap double the length of their bodies, and use their tongues as combs. There are also a number of things that cats ca
`Another miracle! One of those sailing on our ship had his purse cut from his belt. He lost his valuables and all the money he had He immediately made a vow to St James that if he recovered his prope
