Part of my cookery book collection! All three of my various editions of The Joy of Cooking are there - the one rebound with wallpaper is the most-used. Recipes of All Nations, if I recall correctly, is the book that started Elizabeth David on her culinary journeys.
I have no idea at all how this Irish bible came to be in the family. I do know some O'Briens and asked if they knew anything about the Charlotte in the inscription. She was born in 1845, and in 1849 her father was transported to Tasmania (I wasn't told why). He had returned to Ireland by 1863 when he gave her the Bible. The curious thing is that they weren't an Irish speaking family, but they would have been very supportive of Douglas Hyde and his work towards reviving the Irish language (use of which had been severely suppressed by the British). The same Charlotte O'Brien must have been in Canada at some stage, because she was involved in setting up hostels there for emigrant women.
(For non-Irish readers - until about the middle of the 20th century the Irish language used a slightly different alphabet, as shown below).
A long-time Peanuts fan I was delighted when Fantagraphics started issuing the Complete Peanuts. It's a 12 1/2 year project with two issues a year - they're now over halfway. I think it will fill more than one shelf when it's complete. The box are indexed which can make it easier to find certain favourite strips, but unfortunately the indexes (yes, the language nerd in me, see following photo, had to go and check if indexes was as valid as indices :D), aren't as comprehensive as they could be.
Our language/reference shelf. It has just had Origins of the Specious added to it, part of a buy with an Amazon.com gift voucher. As all my other English usage books are written by English writers and grammarians, it's very interesting reading one by an American with a corresponding transatlantic flavour.
2 comments:
You've got quite a library! What a wonderful piece of history in that bible. You might have hooked me on that new book. The Introduction had me wanting to read more. Do I spy an owl?
Love the look of old books. I am glad I saved some of the old books that my SIL was throwing away, they used to belong to DH's grandparents. From the inscription it seems that schools gave to them was reward for good behaviour. One of the was a copy of Little Women which I must bring down from the attic. I wonder if 10 is too young to get into it...
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