Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 1d

Good question!

We answer that (and more) in this blogpost:

collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

bsky.app/profile/zoon...

Captain Hurley 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 @zoonie.bsky.social · 1d

How on earth did the university of Reading end up with Joyce's archive?!

1 5

Reposted by University of Reading Special Collections

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 1d

wake up babe
new generational James Joyce exhibition just dropped

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 1d

🥳 Now open 🎉

Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.

Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.

James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. 7 October - 9 February 2026. Uni of Reading Special Collections.

1 10 78

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 1d

Visit the exhibition any time during @themerl.bsky.social's regular opening hours.

Plan your visit via The MERL's website today!

merl.reading.ac.uk/visit-us/

Visit Us - The Museum of English Rural Life

Find out everything you need to know about planning a visit to The MERL galleries, shop, café, garden, or reading room.

merl.reading.ac.uk

1 4 21

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 1d

Find out more about James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles in the latest @uniofreading.bsky.social blogpost:

www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...

James Joyce Enigmas and Puzzles exhibition - University of Reading

www.reading.ac.uk

1 1 11

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · 1d

🥳 Now open 🎉

Discover rarely-seen letters and artefacts from the personal archive of beloved author James Joyce in James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles.

Explore Joyce's social network of friends and artists, his family life, his inspirations, and the adjustments he made to work despite ill-health.

2 8 43

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We also look after the personal archive of Beckett’s close friend, James Joyce.

Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.

collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. 7 October - 9 February 2026. University of Reading Special Collections, at The Museum of English Rural Life.

2 8 36

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We're looking forward to sharing more information about this amazing visit very soon.

In the meantime, you can learn all about the contents and breadth of the Samuel Beckett Collection kept here at the @uniofreading.bsky.social on our website:

collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

Samuel Beckett Collection - Special Collections - University of Reading

Our Samuel Beckett Collection is the largest in the world and is officially Designated by Arts Council England as an outstanding collection.

collections.reading.ac.uk

1 1 12

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 8

We hold the world's largest Samuel Beckett Collection, and frequently welcome researchers, actors and dramatists.

In April, this included the cast of the upcoming Jamie Lloyd Co production of Waiting for Godot – including actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter!

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/t...

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter Are Ready for ‘Godot’

www.nytimes.com

1 19 74

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Sep 2

Some of our books have detailed illustrated covers, like these three volumes on the life of Osbert Sitwell. Part of a collection of five autobiographical books, these were published between 1940 and 1950.
[Finzi 23C/14,15,17]

Illustrated book cover of ‘The scarlet tree’ with the figure of a man, his heart and venous system drawn in red.

Illustrated book cover of ‘Great morning’ with the title in a gilt sun, and two statuesque figures

Illustrated book cover of ‘Noble essences’, with statuesque figures lining a room with a glass domed roof showing the night sky.

1 13

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Aug 21

Convinced they had seen a real phoenix, the owner of this 16th century book was not impressed by its illustrations. Belon’s 1557 ‘Vrais portraits d’oyseaux’ was used as a checklist for an avid birdwatcher and is full of their annotations. We wonder what the phoenix they saw was…?
[Cole 136/5]

Book held open to an illustration of a phoenix. The owners inscription reads: The bird of paradise, the dead one I have seen

Book held open to an illustration of a phoenix. The owners inscription reads: A phoenix as vulgarly painted

2 2 16

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Aug 18

This dramatic cover is heavy enough to be wooden, but it’s actually made of papier-mâché!
Henry Humphreys’ ‘A record of the black prince’ was published in 1849 and is full of detailed miniatures.
[Longman 053]

Book held in hand with ornate 3D cover and shield over a red background

One of the pages of miniatures, with a scene of a battle on ships. The border is decorated with leaves and has the figures of two men and a lion.

15 55

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Aug 5

Have a peek at more of these treasures in our online exhibition:
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

Embellish'd with gold: European Manuscripts - Special Collections

Explore the highlights from the European Manuscripts Collection, acquired by the University of Reading in 2018. Featuring decorated illumated manuscripts.

collections.reading.ac.uk

1 3

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Aug 5

Some of our manuscripts have tiny figures on them, a few no larger than a thumbnail! These pages range from 400 to 900 years old, and are gilt in gold.
[MS 5650]

An illuminated manuscript page, with decorative lettering, flora and fauna. Includes a miniature of a man at a feasting table, and a boy pouring a jug, representing Aquarius.

A leaf of a manuscript with colourful and gilt decorative lettering. Includes an intricate border, with a large bird

A gilt miniature of a monk inside decorative lettering on a leaf of manuscript.

1 6 24

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jul 24

Interested in rare books collections and all things library? We’re looking for a Graduate Trainee Library Assistant to join our team!
Find out more here:

jobs.reading.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Graduate Trainee Library Assistant :Whiteknights Reading UK

Full time, fixed term contact for 12 months

jobs.reading.ac.uk

5 4

Reposted by University of Reading Special Collections

Doctoral & Researcher College, University of Reading @unirdg-phd.bsky.social · Jul 17

Mills & Boon have been publishing romantic novels since 1908, but who were the often hidden authors? In her prize-winning 3 minute talk from #UoRPhDConf, Vic Pickup reveals insights from her PhD research drawing on letters from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social youtu.be/qzFDFZqTLNE?... #MillsandBoon #PhD

Three Minute Thesis Competition Winner 2025 Sorry not sorry: The invisible women behind Mills & Boon

YouTube video by University of Reading

youtu.be

4 4

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jul 8

Take a look at our exhibition here: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

Journeys Through the Pages: Travels and Tales from The Omnibus Magazine - Collections - Special Collections

This online exhibition focuses on the travel experiences and stories of O.M.S. members seen in the essays, drawings, paintings, and photographs that were contributed to the Omnibus magazine throughout its existence.

collections.reading.ac.uk

4

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jul 8

What would social media look like in the Victorian period? Our newest online exhibition curated by PhD student Amy Longmuir explores ‘The Omnibus’, a magazine created at the turn of the century, which gives us an insight into Victorian life.

The title page of the magazine ‘The Omnibus’, with illustrations of flowers

1 3 13

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jul 2

Some of the books in our collection have had their illustrations coloured in by hand, like this 1553 volume ‘De Aquatilibus’ by Pierre Belon, full of drawings of sea creatures.
[Cole 136/04]

Book held in hand showing a detailed illustration of a nautilus.

Book held showing a detailed illustration coloured in by hand

The spine of the book, with gilt detailing.

11

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 20

This curious book ‘The Toilet’ was published in 1867, and only has illustrations with small lines of text. Despite its name, this book does not actually contain toilets, instead each picture has a flap hiding a ‘virtue’.
[Reserve 170.84 MUR]

A book held open at a page with a colourful illustration of a jar

A page showing a colourful illustration of a jar, with a flap for its lid hiding the phrase ‘good humour’.

The title page of the book, held open in hand

8

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 16

Here is a reminder of our first exhibition on Joyce’s love of language: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

JAMES JOYCE: A LOVE OF LANGUAGE EXHIBITION - Collections - Special Collections

The Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection was bequeathed to the University of Reading in 2020. To coincide with the opening of James Joyce’s library of books and objects for […]

collections.reading.ac.uk

1 4

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 16

We are celebrating the opening of Joyce’s personal archive next year, and displaying items which reveal more about the author behind the puzzles of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. The exhibition is in the Museum of English Rural life staircase hall from 7 Oct 2025 - 9 Feb 2026. More details to follow!

1 5 11

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 16

Happy Bloomsday to all! We are pleased to announce a new exhibition from the Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles.

An image of a pen laid flat, with a tiny inscribed gold book attached

2 12 42

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 14

Some of our material has hidden additions, like this unassuming 1697 copy ‘Of wisdom’ by Pierre Charron. On the back cover, someone has doodled a person riding a bull or cow, also dated 1698!
[Reserve 170 CHA]

The back cover of a book held in hand, with a doodled cow and rider

2 22

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 12

Recently found in our archive, this travel journal recounts trips to Geneva, Chamonix and Rome. Written between 1846 and 1853 by Miss Fuller, this book has everything from stories of her holidays, to dancing lessons and comments on the weather.
[MS 1652]

Handwritten notebook held in hand, with a loose list inside.

A handwritten diary list as part of the notebook

Another page of the handwritten notebook held in hand

6

University of Reading Special Collections @uorspeccoll.bsky.social · Jun 6

We hold one of the largest collections of bee related material in the UK, including the Cowan Bee Collection at @themerl.bsky.social! You can find out more at: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

Bee Collection - Collections - Special Collections - University of Reading

The Bee Collection brings together private collections (Cotton Collection and H. Malcolm Fraser) with books and periodicals from the University Library.

collections.reading.ac.uk

1 2 13