Emily Goes to the British Library!

   Today was our trip to the British Library.  As you can imagine, this is a destination that went over well with our group.  While there was a little trouble with getting my own “Reader’s Pass” (to be remedied this weekend), this didn’t detract at all from the trip.  Without even getting past the first couple floors we had a great visit.  The British Library runs on a closed-stacks system, which means you don’t just browse the shelves, but need to request the item you want and it will be retrieved for you.  The Library is the world’s largest library (in terms of the number of items it owns), and while there are floors beneath the already huge building, many of these items are housed off-site.

   What was so exciting to this librarian were the exhibits of ancient and famous books and manuscripts on display.  In the “Treasures” room were carefully preserved items such as illuminated manuscripts from centuries past.  Some really timeworn yet well-preserved books.  Some examples include the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare’s first folio, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, and two exemplars of the Magna Carta.  Amazing, right?  And these are just a few of the many items permanently on display.  There was also an exhibit which focused on the use of land in English literature called “Wastelands to Wonderlands.”  Here I found interesting stories behind uses of the land in literature like how the “Winnie the Pooh” stories by A.A. Milne represents the English countryside as an idyllic play land when it is bare of tourists and picnickers.  And, of course, Charles Dickens was highlighted for his use of the city for his backdrops; representing both the city’s greatest joys and gloomiest tragedies.  Of course, original printings and often the notes of the authors were on display.  Perhaps my favorite aspect of this display were these drafts, almost all of which were in the authors’ own hand, and the red pen used liberally.  It made me think of the process of writing.  I love to read, I love books, but when a story finally gets to me, it is in its final stage.  The author has brought it to some sense of completion (though I’ve read quotes from authors who say they are never done with a novel) and it will not change from that.  Because of this I often overlook the work that goes into writing.  The words don’t come streaming out in their final form; books are often edited tens of times-- and perhaps more, what do I know about the book-writing process?  So it was a fascinating reminder to me to see these drafts which show the work that goes into this, my favorite artistic process.  Just the change of one word, for example, in a book called The Owl Service by Alan Garner makes a difference.  In one scene he had started with a quote from a character as this: “I feel it, look at this sick valley, Gwyn.  Empty farms, poor land.”  And with a red pen and several cross outs and additions ended up with: “I’ve felt it but couldn’t put it into words like you can; look at this sick valley, Gwyn.  Tumble-down buildings, rough land.”  Thinking about this process is of great interest to me, and contemplating how a slightly different word can change a passage is the kind of thing that makes me happy.  So thank you, British Library!

   I’m off to an early bed tonight as we’re meeting at 4:30 AM tomorrow to catch the Eurostar to Paris.  Some things are just worth 4:30AM.  Paris qualifies.  À bientôt!