Osler and Ernulf's curse
1997; Elsevier BV; Volume: 350; Issue: 9086 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0140-6736(97)05143-x
ISSN1474-547X
Autores Tópico(s)Health and Medical Research Impacts
ResumoAll libraries have books marred by annotations and underlinings which deface the text. Of course, it could be worse–the book could be stolen. I was, therefore, happy to come across William Osler's cry of outrage at the plunderers of books. “The first book I bought was the Globe Shakespeare; the second the 1862 edition, Boston, of the Religio Medici…, both of which were close companions of my student days. The Shakespeare was stolen, and the curses of Bishop Ernulphus have often been invoked on the son of Belial who took it.” 1 Osler W The collecting of a library. Selected writings of Sir William Osler. Oxford University Press, London1961 Google Scholar The title-page of Osler's working copy of his Principles and Practice of Medicine bears his pet curse: “Private Copy. May all the curses of the good Bishop Ernulphus light on the borrower-and-non-returner or stealer of this book!” Osler was almost obsessed with the bishop's comprehensive curse. When he lent someone a book he would often scribble in it, not his own name, but: “May the curse of Ernulphus, and of Dr Borrower, light on the non-returner.” 2 Francis WW At Osler's shrine. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1937; 26: 1-8 PubMed Google Scholar It's my bookA bookseller in north London had been having big trouble with theft—surprising really, since he specialises in theological works.1 On one occasion he caught a rabbi and a vicar carrying ecumenism to the limit by thieving from the same shelves, devoted to the Psalms. A reminder of the Ten Commandments (“thou shalt not steal”) had no effect but a robust 16th century curse from the library of San Pedro Monastery, Barcelona, worked a treat. Full-Text PDF
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