Trinity College Library Dublin

A descriptive catalogue of manuscripts containing Middle English and some Old English

John Scattergood, with Niamh Pattwell & Emma Williams

“The best manuscript catalogues – like this one – may take decades to complete but will then serve for several generations or even centuries to come. In his readable book-history John Scattergood writes with authority (and with the affection of an insider) finishing up with a useful itemization of previous cataloguing attempts of the library … What sets this catalogue apart is its sheer detail not only in terms of content, but also collation, script, hands, individual measurements, illumination, watermarks, ownership, history, binding, and even conservation details. Working in the great tradition of M.R. James and N.R. Ker, Scattergood leaves no stone unturned in the identification of texts, owners/annotators, or manuscript history … One can only be impressed by the care that has been taken with the entries which is a tribute to the hard work of Scattergood, Pattwell, and Williams ... Like all Four Courts Press publications, the book is beautifully produced with sixteen colour illustrations, with each manuscript entry beginning on a fresh page, and with sub-headings set out in a variety of formats to enable easy negotiation of the text … John Scattergood – alongside his fellow compilers – should be immensely proud of this capacious volume.” Veronica O’Meara. AMARC Newsletter, no. 78. April 2022