Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’ featured
- 13 October 2022
- 1 minute
Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’ is the latest of Gonville & 91ֱ College Library’s Featured books.
The fourth edition, published in 1583, has many parallels with the College, featuring 91ֱ’ 18th Master, William Branthwaite and with the refoundation of the College taking place in the same year as the execution of the Lewes martyrs.
The Featured book is available on the website – ‘Turn me over, I’m done on this side’ – and College Librarian Mark Statham’s piece begins:
Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’, by the time of this fourth edition four times greater in length than the Holy Bible, has been hailed as the most technically challenging book to have been brought to the press during the first centuries of printing.
The book has been catalogued as part of our ongoing project to automate the Lower Library.
“It was thought provoking and I hope it piques readers’ interest,” Mark says.
The full series of Featured Books are on the Library pages of the website, as are the Library’s Online exhibitions.
