Physical books are pieces of history. I collect old books; many have the names of previous owners written on the inside pages; little comments in the margins or underscoring of particular passages and comments felt to be pertinent. I’ll never know those people but I feel like I know something of them…
I inherited a lot of books from my own father on his passing. Patrick O’Brian (the Aubrey/Maturin ‘Master and Commander books), Bernard Cornwell (The Last Kingdom books), Robert Graves (I, Claudius) among other historical based books. But also Ian Fleming (the Bond books), Stephen King, Gerald Seymour and Harold Robbins- a pulp fiction writer who was huge in the 60’s/70’s. Biographies of the famous and infamous, And atlases and travel books - yet my father hardly ever left Northern Ireland. I guess that speaks volumes.
A mixed bag of high and low brow books I suppose, but they convey a sense of a life. I should let go of some of these books but I can’t. Thanks so much for sharing your dad’s books with us - deeply moving to read.
So true. There are whole lives mapped out in book collections. There is always plenty of stuff we roll our eyes at and some things that touch us deeply. My family are big readers but we've never really done marginalia or underlining. My wife does it but I don't. William Blake's books are amazing because he's commenting on everything!
Yes, like your wife, I’ve always marginalising and underscored! I still own the novels and plays I studied for my English Literature A Level - I love reading the comments I scrawled about Jay Gatsby (I adored the character), the Duchess of Malfi or the Wife of Bath. I love looking at my old handwriting - it takes me back to when I was part of a very large, extended family in Belfast, rather than the dislocated person on the other side of the world I am today.
Physical books are pieces of history. I collect old books; many have the names of previous owners written on the inside pages; little comments in the margins or underscoring of particular passages and comments felt to be pertinent. I’ll never know those people but I feel like I know something of them…
I inherited a lot of books from my own father on his passing. Patrick O’Brian (the Aubrey/Maturin ‘Master and Commander books), Bernard Cornwell (The Last Kingdom books), Robert Graves (I, Claudius) among other historical based books. But also Ian Fleming (the Bond books), Stephen King, Gerald Seymour and Harold Robbins- a pulp fiction writer who was huge in the 60’s/70’s. Biographies of the famous and infamous, And atlases and travel books - yet my father hardly ever left Northern Ireland. I guess that speaks volumes.
A mixed bag of high and low brow books I suppose, but they convey a sense of a life. I should let go of some of these books but I can’t. Thanks so much for sharing your dad’s books with us - deeply moving to read.
So true. There are whole lives mapped out in book collections. There is always plenty of stuff we roll our eyes at and some things that touch us deeply. My family are big readers but we've never really done marginalia or underlining. My wife does it but I don't. William Blake's books are amazing because he's commenting on everything!
Yes, like your wife, I’ve always marginalising and underscored! I still own the novels and plays I studied for my English Literature A Level - I love reading the comments I scrawled about Jay Gatsby (I adored the character), the Duchess of Malfi or the Wife of Bath. I love looking at my old handwriting - it takes me back to when I was part of a very large, extended family in Belfast, rather than the dislocated person on the other side of the world I am today.
Excellent and very moving piece. I have had similar experiences with my father’s books. A lot of Faulkner.
Wonderful memorial and reflection.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts.
I totally understand where you’re coming from here, and I admire you for devoting the time to share your experiences. Powerful and good stuff. 🎁
Beautiful