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4207 Friends Newsletter 67, Winter 2009_v2:Layout 1 29/01/2010 13:27 Page 2

FRIENDS Celebrating OF THE 20 BRITISH YEARS 1989– 2009

The newsletter of the Friends of the British Library Issue 67 Winter 2009 Stories of the storytellers

FRIENDS SUPPORT For anyone with a passion Sarah has an MA in Life Writing from the University of East “AUTHORS’ LIVES” for , Sarah O’Reilly Anglia, where she studied under Richard Holmes, the award- must have the most enviable winning biographer. She has had jobs in television and publishing. job in the land. She spends “But nothing I’ve done prepared me for this sort of her working days talking to interviewing,” she confesses. “The average is between ten celebrated writers, recording and 15 hours for each author and some – with Penelope Lively, their conversation for posterity. Michael Holroyd and Michael Frayn – have gone to 30 hours.” And the Friends have donated Clearly such interviews cannot be conducted in a single session. £10,000 to support her work. Sarah tries to arrange sessions no longer than three hours. She is the dedicated “In a way that’s useful because it lets me build up a relationship. interviewer for “Authors’ Lives”, When people are open and relaxed you get a better interview. one of the most ambitious of And it’s interesting to see how they change from one session the many projects that come to the next. . . If someone’s having a really bad day you can under the Library’s umbrella. hear it in their voice. It is part of a wider undertaking, “I hope the interviews feel like an informal conversation. I hope Sarah O’Reilly National Life Stories, established that when people listen to them they feel that they’re listening to in 1987 with the object of recording thousands of comprehensive something quite personal.” interviews with significant people in all areas of British life – so that Continued on page 2 their voices, their stories and even some of their intimate secrets can be preserved, adding extra meaning to their work. The organisers of National Life Stories, under their president Lord Asa Briggs, group potential interviewees according to their Friends’ Christmas occupation. So far they have included such diverse categories as athletes, chefs, artists, craftspeople, architects and publishers. Shopping event Given the Library’s involvement, it is surprising that it took them 20 years to start on authors. *Big discounts Since 2007 Sarah has interviewed 24 of the 100 authors on a master list of targets drawn up by an advisory committee chaired *Exhibition tour by Penelope Lively. She estimates that it will take up to four years to complete those interviews, but hopes funding will be found *Mulled wine to continue the project after that. *Raffle The cost is £45,000 a year, and the Friends are among a number of organisations making contributions. Sir Nicholas Goodison, Thursday 26 chairman of National Life Stories, in a letter to our chairman, Lord November, Hameed, wrote: “Without this sort of support from our benefactors 3pm – 7.30 we would be unable to undertake such an exciting and diverse range of recordings and thus provide future historians and FULL DETAILS ON PAGE 7 researchers with such a valuable body of material.”

IN THIS ISSUE ▼ Page 2 ▼ Page 3 ▼ Page 4 ▼ Page 5 Chairman’s letter Useless research? Introducing Nickie Ted and Sylvia ▼ ▼ Page 6 ▼ Page 7 Page 8 Shopping ideas Visits and events Prize crossword 4207 Friends Newsletter 67, Winter 2009_v2:Layout 1 29/01/2010 13:27 Page 3

Recognising our selfless helpers

Last year I instituted an mean that I and the Trustees do not recognise the selfless CHAIRMAN’S LETTER honorary award to recognise contributions made by many other Friends, especially the people who have made an volunteers. Without them our organisation could scarcely outstanding contribution to the function and would certainly not flourish. Friends over the years. I am As it is, I am pleased to report that there has been an happy to report that this year’s encouraging increase in membership during the current year, recipients are Colin Tite, Graham despite the economic downturn. I suspect that this is largely Allatt and Amanda Benton. due to the fact that Friends were granted free admission to Colin, a noted historian, the successful Henry VIII exhibition – a substantial benefit. has been involved with the I am also encouraged by how many of you have responded Friends almost from our to the survey sent out with the last issue of the Newsletter. very beginnings in 1989. Your responses have not yet been analysed but the fact that His enthusiasm and initiative were quickly recognised by the so many took the trouble to give us their views is in itself a Trustees, who persuaded him to join the Council. He was then healthy sign. appointed deputy chairman – a post he held for seven years. I hope as many of you as possible will take advantage of our After he left the Council he joined the ranks of the volunteers pre-Christmas event on 26 November: you will find details on who man our desk in the Library lobby. page 7. As well as being a popular social occasion, it gives you Graham has been treasurer of the Friends since 2004 and the chance to buy your Christmas presents at the Library shop has a history of involvement with other charities. A qualified at an extra discount – and this year it will include a free guided accountant, he has kept our finances in order with unmatched tour of the new exhibition of Victorian photographs, led by its efficiency and and is assiduous in attending committee curator. meetings, even though he holds a senior position with a major Further into the future, please make a note of the date of our banking group. Annual General Meeting on 2 March. I hope to meet many of Amanda is a more recent recruit to our ranks. Among her you there and in the meantime I wish you all the best for the many contributions to the Council since she joined it in 2007 forthcoming festive season. have been a radical reform of our office procedures and the organisation of the splendid programme of special events The Lord Hameed of , for members this year, marking our twentieth anniversary. Chairman, Friends of the British Library That we honour these three individuals does not of course November 2009 ■

Stories of the storytellers continued from page 1

She will usually begin by asking literature is being established. the authors about their childhood, “One of the purposes of urging them to describe it as building this big archive is to completely as they can, for she reflect the changes that are believes that someone’s early life happening in the publishing is a vital key to later developments. industry at the moment,” she Since she cannot read all a writer’s says. “Thinking about the books before the interview, she twentieth and twenty-first reads those that she believes centuries, the way that books contain themes that run through are read and published has the work. “I’m a lot faster reader changed so dramatically that as since I started on this project.” a whole I hope the archive will To encourage the authors to give researchers a panoramic be completely frank, they are sense of how authors have given the option of stipulating responded to these changes.” Fay Godwin Archive, British Library Fay Godwin Archive, that no part of the interview Michael Holroyd. Penelope Lively. Already some of her should be published in their interviews are available at lifetime. About half of them take advantage of this concession. listening posts in the Library’s reading rooms to people with A small minority refuse to take part at all – among them Philip readers’ passes. Pullman, who declared himself “sceptical about the value of Contact the Sound Archive on 020 7412 7418 for information biography when it comes to literature”. on how to access them. And next year the Library hopes to Luckily most of those approached do not share his view, and produce a double CD containing key excerpts from the Sarah hopes that, as a result, an invaluable record of contemporary conversations.

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Let’s hear it for the scholar

THE VALUE OF USELESS in advance – be assessed, sorting the high behaviour, such as reduction in smoking. RESEARCH impact sheep from the low impact goats, Even those indicators that looked and funding them accordingly. appropriate to the humanities were It is the nature of the most innovative framed in a way that would be very hard research that it takes risks, that it doesn’t for us to meet. Try: “enriched appreciation know where it is going when it starts, of heritage or culture, for example as that you have to wait and see, maybe for measured through surveys”. How on earth decades. Over the last 50 years it has been could the cultural impact of Wittgenstein this country’s willingness to take these risks or Freud be assessed by a survey? that has allowed it to punch well above its Third, humanities research is ultimately weight in all kinds of academic endeavour – about culture, civilisation and human and to do much better, globally, than British happiness. It is about changing the way we sport, which seems to get funded even when understand the world, and understanding it doesn’t get “outcomes”. the way the world changes. A look at the consultation document When we visit Florence it is not the for the forthcoming Research Excellence business model of the Medici that we go to Framework, formulated by the Higher view, it is the art – and the dangerous, risky, Education Funding Council for , will non-outcome-driven rediscovery of Classical only intensify concerns. It suggests almost antiquity by humanists that 40 indicators that might be used to assess underpinned it. True, 500 years later this has “impact”. Of these, only four or five could proved a nice earner for the Florentines. But possibly apply to work in the humanities. there is no economic model of outcomes Most refer to such things as income from that can adequately reflect its immeasurable industry, better drugs or changes in public cultural impact on us, as human beings. ■ As part of the Battle of Ideas Festival, run by the Institute of Ideas in October, the Library hosted a debate entitled Don and Looking for a perfect festive gift? Dusted: Is the age of the scholar over? One speaker who answered the question with a resounding “no” was Mary , professor of classics at the University of Make a friend a Friend and . This is an edited version of her remarks, published with her permission. give a gift that lasts all year

Should we protect old-fashioned, curiosity- We are pleased to offer: driven humanities research? And should we 1 year Gift Membership: protect the badly-dressed old-fashioned don who used to amble into the British Library to £40 (single) | £55 (joint) | £30 (concession) pursue some “useless” research topic like ancient Athenian board games? Your friend will receive a Presentation Pack including Let me offer three reasons why we should: First, there is no such thing as useless membership card and back copies of our newsletter. research. What might look useless is, of course, research we haven’t found a use for Friends’ benefits include: yet. Think of Darwin, setting out on the ■ Exclusive access to the Friends’ Lounge (3rd floor) Beagle on a voyage that would never have The stylish lounge is equipped with comfortable sofas and quality won Government funding today. (What were daily newspapers. The next door terrace provides fascinating its outcomes going to be – never mind its panoramic views of ! appalling health and safety problems?). It ■ Exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ visits to Library areas closed to the was only years, if not decades later that the general public implications of this curiosity-driven project ■ Access to unique Friends’ viewings/talks by Library curators and had its impact. Second, those of us who object to an experts ■ outcome-driven, socio-economic impact Exclusive organised visits to other and model of research are not over-privileged and ■ Substantial Friends’ discounts for the main Library events pasty-faced library dwellers who don’t give a ■ Discounts at the Library Shop and other offers toss about the culture, society and political ■ Regular Friends’ Newsletters and a copy of What’s On. economy of which we are a part – and which pays us. What we object to is the idea that Applications received before 10 December will be processed there is any reliable model which can measure in time for Christmas. impact, and against which our work can –

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A fresh face for the Friends

Many members were of August. Born and MEET THE NEW SECRETARY delighted – surprised, raised in Wisconsin, too – to receive an e- in early October from Nickie Chapman, our in the American new membership secretary (pictured). They were surprised because Midwest, she came it has in the past been rare for the office to communicate directly to England in 1999, with members in this way. when she was 20. The main purpose of the e-mail was to alert Friends to a lecture The culture shock being given by Dame , chief executive of the British was severe. Library, under the auspices of SHeLF, the friends organisation for “Wisconsin is the Senate House Library in the University of London. Nickie had size of the UK but has contacted SHeLF to suggest closer co-operation between the two only four and a half organisations, and was glad to pass on information about their million people in the Nickie Chapman. lecture. whole state. So I’m used to lots of open spaces and farms and cows She circulated all members for whom she has an e-mail address – and buses that stop running at 6pm. Until I moved over here I’d roughly half our total membership of 3128. The success of the never seen an ocean or a mountain or eaten Indian food.” initiative can be judged by Dame Lynne’s remark at the start of her However, she did know and care about books and libraries. “I’ve talk that she was glad to see so many British Library Friends in the always been a bookworm. When I was 12 or 13 I volunteered at my audience – and by the several dozen warm e- that Nickie local library. I’d run the computers and do the summer programme.” received from members in response. Soon after she arrived in Britain she enrolled on a degree course “It was very encouraging,” she says. “It’s bolstered my in English Literature at Birkbeck College, part of London University. confidence.” So we can expect more e-mails – although she Since graduating in 2005 she has held a number of positions for will be careful not to overload our in-trays. charities and commercial companies. “The Newsletter only comes out four times a year and we should “I applied for this job because I wanted to get back to working be in touch more often than that,” she declares. “For instance, I can for a not-for-profit organisation. And in other jobs I’ve been just update members on events and tell them when spaces on visits are a cog in a very big wheel. Here I’m the wheel.” still available. It doesn’t cost anything except my time.” Nickie’s office is just beyond the Friends’ Room on the third floor Computers are among Nickie’s strengths. She acquired skills in of the Library. She has placed a sign-up sheet in to ensure information technology in previous jobs and hopes to put them to that the “Friends only” rule is adhered to, and when she has the use by developing the Friends’ website and our entry in Wikipedia, time she leaves her desk to meet some of the members. the online encyclopedia. “This is a job where I really enjoy coming in every day,” she says. She took up her post as our only full-time staff member at the end “I like the atmosphere and I particularly like the people I meet.” ■ Hearing the sounds of history

presentation on Milestones of the Sound number one in the first British Hit Parade. EVENT REPORT Archive, given by Nigel Bewley, the archive’s From the 1960s we began to move into operations manager, and Will Prentice, the digital age, with CDs arriving in the training officer. early eighties. Some of the sounds played were bizarre, The event was part of the special to say the least. Milestone number one was programme marking the Friends’ twentieth the oldest item in the archive – a tinfoil anniversary. It was preceded by tea and phonograph made in 1877, in such bad biscuits in the Friends’ Room and ended condition that it could be scanned only in a with a tour of the archive. ■ university laboratory. The result was a blast of static punctuated by indeterminate squeaks. “We think it’s a woman’s voice,” said Nigel, without much confidence. As others see us As we moved forward in time, the sounds that we heard were easier to appreciate. In “The British Library has a typical 1891 came the first known piano recording member: he is 19 years old and of a work by Mozart and in 1920 the first studying for his Finals, chats all recording using electrical microphones, made day and likes Foucault.” It is more than 120 years since the first at a memorial service in . Andrew O’Hagan successful experiments were made in We heard Alfred Hitchcock auditioning an quoted in The capturing sounds for posterity. The story actress for the first British talking picture , comparing the British of those early days, and of later historic in 1929. Library with the London Library. developments in recording techniques, was Al Martino singing Here in my Heart in told to some 40 Friends in a fascinating 1952 was a milestone because it was the first 4 4207 Friends Newsletter 67, Winter 2009_v2:Layout 1 29/01/2010 13:28 Page 8

When Ted met Sylvia

FRIENDS DONATE HISTORIC to the Friends for assistance. And the The launch MAGAZINE Trustees agreed to donate the full purchase of the magazine price of £5500. and the first On 25 February 1956 a poetry magazine, Says Jamie: “Nowhere else are authors meeting with Saint Botolph’s Review, was launched at a more likely to take risks in their work, or to Plath were student party in Cambridge. Four poems by demonstrate their friendship networks, recorded by were included in it and at the than in the of their early Hughes in one launch Hughes first met his future wife, the adulthood. . . Saint Botolph’s Review of the poems he American poet . Possibly the is named after the rectory on the city included in his most famous – and ultimately tragic – outskirts where Hughes would sometimes Birthday Letters love affair in British literary history began stay with his friend Lucas Myers. One of collection, the of which formed with the publication of this magazine. the authors included in the magazine, a significant part of the pre-eminent Ted The Library has been actively collecting Daniel Weissbort, would later found Hughes collection acquired by the Library the earliest work of important British Modern Poetry in Translation with Hughes, last year, also with the support of the authors as they appeared in little magazines a key event in what has been seen as the Friends. The manuscripts of Birthday Letters of this kind, which do not always come in de-parochialising of English poetry in the contain many drafts not included in the through . So when Hughes’s 1960s.” final published collection and, during own annotated copy came up for purchase Only three other copies of Saint cataloguing, a longer version of the poem Jamie Andrews, the Library‘s head of Botolph’s Review have been located in St Botolph’s has been discovered. In this modern literary manuscripts, was excited public institutions in the , previously unknown draft, Hughes by the prospect of acquiring it. and none of these contains handwritten described at length the pleasure that he With his own departmental budget annotations. So this copy is a unique item and his fellow creators felt when they depleted by other demands on it, he turned of research and iconic value. finished the first edition of the review. ■

Re-living the Eighties Great words for less

The cultural and artistic NEW IN THE SOUND ARCHIVE scene of the 1980s is recreated vividly in a set of talks and debates just made available by the Library’s sound archive. They are recordings of discussions at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) featuring most of the leading authors, performers and politicians of the era. Kings Place, London’s newest cultural centre, is a comfortable Among those who took part in the debates and interviews were 15-minute walk from the Library on Way, overlooking Salman Rushdie, Tariq Ali, , Quentin Crisp, Ken the Canal. It hosts talks, music and performance events, and Livingstone, Richard Dawkins, Margaret Atwood, Terry Pratchett, now Friends are being offered a generous £2 discount on two Derek Jarman, Elisabeth Frink, Kurt Vonnegut and Kazuo Ishiguro. The events in their popular Words on Monday series. neurologist Oliver Sacks and the composer Michael Nyman discussed the process of turning Sacks’ medical anecdote The Man Who Mistook Monday 30 November, 7pm His Wife for a Hat into an opera. The cartoonist Steve Bell revealed ROBBIE BURNS 250th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION why he likes drawing penguins. Robbie Burns was a leading figure in the Romantic Kristian Jensen, head of British collections at the Library, says: movement and a champion of the Scottish language. “Anyone interested in cultural, artistic and political change in The author of many famous poems and lyrics, he has contemporary Britain will want to listen to this collection of talks become a cultural icon. This event will feature the from the ICA. . . It transports us back 20 years through cyberspace distinguished biographer Robert Crawford, leading to the meatiest debates of the 80s at the mere click of a button.” Scottish poets Jackie Kay and Liz Lockhead, and The 880 recordings, made between 1981 and 1994, total more music by the award-winning Polwart Vocal Trio. than a thousand hours of listening. They can be accessed online at http://sounds.bl.uk. ■ Monday 7 December 7pm ANDREW MARR ON THE MAKING OF MODERN BRITAIN The story of Britain from 1900 to the Second World FOR YOUR DIARY War is vividly brought to life by one of our foremost television presenters and authors. The Friends’ Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 2 March at 6pm Tickets for Friends are just £7.50 each. To book call the Box Office on 020 7520 1490 and quote “British Library Guest speaker: Marina Warner Friends Offer”.

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Libraries are still about books

acquisitions from the dissolved monasteries. Thomason (the Thomason Tracts), the BOOK REVIEW Although many were later disposed of, naturalist Sir and Sir William some survived in the old Musgrave – the subject of an elegant Libraries Within the Library: that George II gave to the before it chapter by Christopher Wright, the Library’s The Origins of the British Library’s opened. But the bulk of its core library came former head of manuscripts, now deputy Printed Collections. Edited by initially from Sir , the Museum’s chairman of the Friends. The last major Giles Mandelbrote and Barry Taylor. principal progenitor. bequest came from who, (The British Library, 448pp. £45) George III was the monarchy’s keenest having promised his great-nephew, the bibliophile. When he came to the throne he Duke of Chandos, that he would inherit the This book could not have been better timed. had already begun to build an impressive finest collection of the nineteenth century, Just when new technology encourages us library. Now known to us as the King’s had a fit of conscience about “for many to separate the words in books from the Library, at its heart is the formidable collection years receiving from the public purse the paper and bindings that contain them, this amassed in Venice by Consul Joseph Smith, large payment of a sinecure office” and, intriguing volume bucks the trend. It is a banker and connoisseur, who died in 1770. resisting family pressure, decided to repay series of essays by bibliographic scholars – In one of the liveliest chapters John the debt by leaving his library to the nation. mostly present or former employees of the Goldfinch, the Library’s curator of incunabula, Today it nestles alongside the King’s Library Library – that relate how books from major tells of the disputes surrounding George IV’s in the inner core of the central tower at collections were acquired by the British donation of his father’s books to the Museum St Pancras. Museum, ending up in the British Library. in 1823, amid strong rumours that he To launch this book, a seminar will be Further, they trace the history of the source planned to sell them to the Tsar of Russia. held at the Conference Centre on Monday collections, the motivation of their founders There were further ructions 175 years later 25 January at 2.15pm, culminating in a and the provenance of some individual over the plan to move the King’s Library from reception at 6pm. Speakers will discuss volumes. its purpose-built gallery in the Museum to the the origins of the Library’s many collections. Thus the story starts well before the new British Library, where it is now housed Admission is free, but those who want to Museum came into being in the 1750s. in its splendid glass tower. attend should register in advance with Henry VIII inherited some books from Other important collections acquired Teresa Harrington on 020 7412 7785 / 7579, his forebears and augmented them by over the years included those of George or e-mail her at [email protected]. So what else is new?

south-east Asia in GIFTS FROM THE the service of the LIBRARY SHOP . Take full advantage of your members’ This is a fully discount and do your Christmas shopping illustrated catalogue at the Library Shop, either in person or of the 120 natural online. Remember that your regular 10% history drawings of discount will be increased to 20%for the the collection, acquired by the Library Other notable voices are those last four days in November if you pick in 2007 with the help of the Friends. of David Suchet, Juliet Stevenson, Ian up a voucher at our pre-Christmas event Price £20.00 ■ Richardson, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Russell (see page 7). The prices given below Beale, Harriet Walter, Patrick Stewart and are pre-discount. Pocket Diary 2010 Ian McKellen. Price £14.50 ■ The Shop stocks a wide range of books The official British Library diary for 2010 and audios. New titles include: combines quotations from the author’s The Group letters and novels with colour images The Bloomsbury Group exerted a profound : A Poet and his Manuscripts taken from the British Library’s collections influence on art, literature and politics in by Stephen Hebron. and silhouette drawings by her nephew, the first half of the twentieth century. This presents, in chronological order, the James Edward Austen-Leigh. Price £6.85 ■ Recordings of this informal association of surviving manuscripts of Keats’s finest poems writers, artists and intellectuals – including and letters, providing a unique visual record The Essential Shakespeare Live Encore Virginia and Leonard Woolf, Clive and of his creative processes. The commentary Following the success of The Essential Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant – are explores each in detail, tracing Shakespeare Live, the Library and the brought together for the first time on a Keats’s swift progress as a writer and thinker. Royal Shakespeare Company present double CD set, drawing on long-unheard Price £25.00 ■ a second audio set of Shakespeare BBC broadcasts and recordings from the recordings. The two discs feature scenes Charleston Trust. Price £15.50 ■ Raffles' Ark Redrawn by H. J. Noltie. and speeches from RSC productions over Sir Thomas (1781–1826) half a century. The roll-call runs from Paul To shop online go to http://shop.bl.uk formed a superb collection of drawings Robeson’s legendary Othello in 1959 to and enter the code “Friends” in the and manuscripts during nearly 20 years in David Tennant’s acclaimed Hamlet in 2008. voucher box at the checkout stage.

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Beauty and the beasts THEATRE AND DINNER OFFER

BOOK FOR THESE VISITS

Our programme of events for the spring covers an unusually wide range of topics – from making harmonious music to the beauty of precision engineering, with the art of stuffing animals in between. Book for them on the enclosed form, including a stamped and addressed envelope.

THE MUSEUM OF INSTRUMENTS sight in auction sales and museums even Royal College of Music today. Their factory once employed 150 Prince Consort Road, people, processing 400 tigers and 600 London SW7 2BS leopards each year. Pat Morris spent several Wednesday 24 February, 14.30 months working through the business records The museum holds an outstanding collection which, apart from their great historical of musical instruments and accessories dating interest, make it possible to track individual from the late fifteenth century to the present specimens and establish whether they are day. Among its treasures are the anonymous being traded in accordance with today’s clavicytherium dating from around 1480, strict international conventions. probably the earliest surviving stringed Refreshments will be served in the Friends keyboard instrument (see picture), along with Room before this event. The dramatisation of Michael other important keyboard, stringed and wind Cost £10. Limit 40 places Morpurgo’s War Horse has been one of instruments. The collection was re-housed in a the National Theatre’s most successful custom-built museum in 1970, since when it THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS recent productions. Described by The has become a 1 Great George Street Times as “heart-breakingly beautiful”, unique resource London, SW1P 3AA it is now playing at the New London for members of Tuesday 27 April, 14.00 Theatre in Drury Lane. Actors working the Royal The ICE library is the largest civil engineering with life-sized puppets lead us on a College of Music and construction library in Britain, with over gripping journey through history. At the and researchers 100,000 titles. In a London coffee house in outbreak of the First World War Joey, from all over the 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers was Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the world. It also founded by a small group of idealistic young cavalry and shipped to France. But displays some of men. Today, ICE has over 80,000 members Albert cannot forget Joey and, still the most famous across the world, and its work with school- not old enough to enlist, embarks music-themed leavers and university students is encouraging on a treacherous mission to find portraits from a new generation of civil engineers. In 1894 it him and bring him home. the college's moved into its present splendid headquarters In the run-up to Christmas, Friends large collection. in the heart of Westminster. Today it has of the British Library can buy top-price Cost £8. Limit offices throughout the the country and the tickets, plus a two-course dinner at the 25 places rest of the world, from Novosibirsk to Hong fashionable One , for £55. Kong. With many of history’s greatest The offer runs until 18 December and “TIGERS, LOGBOOKS AND THE engineers as past presidents and members, is valid for Monday to Friday evening REMAINS OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST ICE has seen the growth and development of performances, subject to availability TAXIDERMY FACTORY”. the profession and provides a focal point for and booking fee. To book call the box A talk with photographs in the Foyle the exchange of ideas and learning. office on 0844 412 4654 and quote Learning Centre in the British Library Cost £8. Limit 30 places “One Aldwych Library Offer“. Conservation Centre Wednesday 31 March, 14.30 Pat Morris is Don’t miss our Christmas shopping party a naturalist, a member of the Friends’ Lounge Mammal Society Thursday 26 November, 15.00 until 19.30 and an author of several books on This year our annual pre-Christmas shopping and social event will be bigger and better than British mammals. ever. Admission is free. Come to the Friends’ Lounge between 3pm and 7.30pm and get into One of his festive mood with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie . principal interests You will be given a voucher allowing you a 20% discount in the shop (double the usual is taxidermy and Friends’ discount). You can use this on the day or at any time in the following four days. he went to India At 6pm there will be a private tour of the new Points of View photographic exhibition to write a book in the main exhibition gallery, led by its curator, John Falconer. Before the tour John will about one of the country’s leading companies sign copies of the handsome book he has written to accompany the exhibition. in the field – Van Ingen and Van Ingen, based Raffle prizes include £50 worth of vouchers for the Library Shop, and several valuable in Mysore. Their work, notably tigers and books. Gift memberships to the Friends will also be on sale. ■ panthers, remains a familiar and distinctive

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Members of the Council Council Members Volunteer Co-ordinator Frances Hawkins Peter Barber T +44 (0)20 8868 3499 President Peter Beal Legal Advisor John Holroyd-Doveton The Marquess of Salisbury PC DL Amanda Benton Deputy Treasurer Alan Cushnir Vice-Presidents Dr Ruth Coman The Lord Bragg of Wigton FRSL Frances Hawkins Friends of the British Library The Lord Jones of Birmingham The Lord Hemingford The British Library Frank Field PC MP Ed King 96 PC MP Robert Kirton (Audit) London NW1 2DB Sir Geoffrey Leigh FRSA Michael Leapman T +44 (0)20 7412 7734 Penelope Lively CBE Professor Kate McLuskie (BL Liaison) F +44 (0)20 7412 7017 Prof FRSL David Marcus [email protected] Cdr Michael Saunders Watson CBE DL Paul Stevenson (IT, Web) www.bl.uk/friends Lord Steel of Aikwood, KT KBE DL Kathy Wrennall (Marketing) Chairman The Lord Hameed of Hampstead CBE DL Registered charity number 328095 Deputy Chairman Dr Christopher Wright OBE Officers Treasurer Graham Allatt FCA Friends of the British Library Newsletter Membership Secretary Nichole Chapman Secretary Vacant is issued four times a year. Editor Michael Leapman Activities Co-ordinators Nina Evans and Amanda Benton

PRIZE CROSSWORD A prize of £25 worth of vouchers to spend in the Library shop will be awarded to the sender of the first correct solution opened. Mark the envelope “Crossword” and send to the office at the address above. Include your name, address and membership number. Closing date: 8 January

Down 1 Graham’s man was there – a smoker? (6) 2 Looking for a road in Elstree? There it is (6) 3 My boy takes a gallon and gives 18 (4) 4 Assumes power, starting with America (6) 5 On stage and screen, Edward’s hands were sharp (8) 6 Italians whip it up for a sweet ending (10) 7 The Library has done this to several 9s and their 15s (8) 8 All is said, done and coated in film (8) 14 Just one exhibit in the Library’s latest big show (10) 16 Throws slob into mire and involves him in confusion (8) 17 Regal Spanish lady makes a beautiful tax-free investment (8) 18 Melodious, but a commercial interrupts the tranquil mood (8) 22 Engine with doubts? (6) 23 Potter's Gloucester craftsman (6) 24 Most parched in sundry establishments (6) 27 Poetically sufficient for a heavenly environment (4)

SOLUTION TO AUTUMN PUZZLE

Across 9 (and 15) Writers immortalised with help from Friends – a front page story (7,5) 10 Anger as King George is trapped in links (7) 11 Honor was one, as were Diana and Joanna (7) 12 Plastered? Or in smithereens? (7) 13 In Italy, it begins what 6 might end (9) 15 See 9 (5) 16 So tired and muddled, but they have to bring the paper out (7) 19 Told off, but in , with an internal chill (7) 20 Comic festivity (5) 21 Withdrew from indulgence in the long grass (9) 25 After six balls I dashed – but it still went on too long (7) 26 Boy ties himself in knots because of weight problem (7) 28 In 3, Danny's little green frog was glad to jump off it . . . (4,3) 29 . . . and in another, don't blame a Gershwin for feeling thus (7)

Winner of autumn prize: Miss K.G. King of Cambridge

8