exploring lists in all their possibilities
by Martha Rust
What comes to mind when you think of summer? Probably a whole list of things: long days, endless blue skies, beaches, travel, sandals, watermelon, and blackberry pie. That’s the list that first pops into my mind, but it could easily go on (and on): bicycling, canoeing, hiking, beautiful long sunsets– and broad vistas of all kinds. Continue reading “A Summer Classic”
Dear Readers,
The Listology team will be gone fishing for a few weeks — with plans to return with a wonderful catch of posts in a variety of shapes and sizes, which we’ll begin to serve up on July 14th. There will be the regular posts on individual lists but also posts on genres that border on lists (e.g. how is an index different from a list?) as well as interviews with people who have written about them. In this latter category, we’re especially looking forward to publishing our interview with Lulah Ellender about her recently published book Elizabeth’s Lists. Perhaps there will be also be post in our catch from you? If you’re interested in becoming a guest author on Listology, please see our Invitation to Participate for information on doing just that.
All best until soon!
— The Listology team
For an interactive version of the above map follow this link.
by Martha Rust
The Ile of Sypre [Cyprus] is abowte …. cc myle.[1]
The Ile of Rodes [Rhodes] is abowte …. clxxx myle.
The Ile of Lainge [Langeland] is abowte ….. lxxx myle.
The Ile of Negrepountis [Euboea] is abowte …. ccc myle.
The Ile of Cecilia [Sicily] is abowte …. vii c myle.
The Ile of Sardyne [Sardinia] is abowte …. vii c myle
The Ile of Mayorke [Majorca] is abowte …. cc myle
The Ile of Gret Bretayne [Great Britain] is abowte …. ml. ml. myle.
The Ile of Selandys [Zealand] is abowte …. ml. vii c myles.
The Principalite of Murrey [Peloponnese] is abowte …. vii c myles.
Cités et ruines Américaines …, by Désiré Charnay[1]
by Colin Harris
Those who love lists, and I assume anyone reading this blog falls into that category, will know that they can become a bit of an obsession. In a retirement project on photographic collections in the Bodleian Library, I have found that so-called obsessive list compiling can have concrete rewards. Continue reading “A List-maker in the Stacks: Photographically illustrated books in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, 1844-1900.”
Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Tanner 407, f. 37v
Reproduced with permission of the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
by Martha Rust
Sometime in the fifteenth century, one Robert Reynes of Acle of the county of Norfolk devoted a page in his commonplace book to two lists having to do with islands.[1] Continue reading “On Islands, Part 1, and … Listology celebrates its first anniversary!”
by Amanda Gerber
Where should one draw the line between a content list for a mythological history and a genealogical tree for one? When created in reference to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, both include the same names, the same chronological order, and the same interest in organizing events according to the people who enacted them. Continue reading “All in the Family: Genealogical Lists in Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Canon. Class. Lat. 9”
by Eva von Contzen
The seemingly unremarkable nature of Judith Schalansky’s Inventory of Certain Losses begins with its cover: a black background broken up by tiny white dots that resemble pixels, spread unevenly across the surface. Continue reading “The Poetics of Enumeration: Judith Schalansky’s Inventory of Certain Losses”
by Rahel Orgis
In my previous post, I highlighted that Tolkien introduces the appendices to The Lord of the Rings as based on pseudo-factual records collected by hobbits. The same goes for the main narrative, which, according to the Prologue, “is drawn mainly from the Red Book of Westmarch” (I, 23): that is, the account of the novel’s events “as seen by the Little People” (III, 307), compiled primarily by the hobbit protagonists Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. The Prologue further explains that, being involved in these momentous events, hobbits took “a more widespread interest in their own history,” leading them to compile for the first time “their traditions” (I, 23). Continue reading “Creative Lists in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings – Part III”
© British Library Board, Harley MS 541, f. 229v
by Martha Rust
Parchement makers (parchment makers)
Screueners (scriveners)
Stationers Continue reading “Doers, Listers, and Makers: An Artisanal List in London, British Library Harley MS 541”
