With Love - The Enduring Legacy of Book Inscriptions

This week on Twitter (@stompermcewan) I've been sharing some inscriptions from books in our library. It was suggested to me that I list some of these treasured memories here in blog format, so that it would reach a wider audience, so that's what I'm doing!

An inscription immortalises the recipient and the giver. But more than that, it preserves forever the heartfelt love and appreciation embodied in the giving of a book. That's why I finished the week with the following tweet:

Enjoy these bite-size histories which have created heroes of normal people as they shared there love of reading and books with someone else. We have bibles, adventures, poem, biographies and so many more. You can find all of these - and more - on my Twitter page.

So many of the books in our little library were gifts from Sunday Schools
- this one given to Dad when he was 7.

Children's books were a thing to treasure and, according to Granddad, also doubled up as sketchbooks!

From a gentleman with a story or two to tell - a trained exorcist.

19th century collection of Burns' poetry gifted 1905.
This is a book we acquired so I don't know who Esther was.

A Bible given to my Great-Granddad on going to war
- pleased to say he did have a safe return. 

Given to Mum from her Godparents.

A dedication from Jeffrey Meyers to Susan Watson in his Robert Frost Biography.
Not sure who she was.

Another Biography, this time of Richard Dimbleby

One of several books given to Granddad from his Sunday School.

No idea who Nellie was, but the handwriting in this is incredible.

From a stamp album - the date is 1894.
Why was the word "Day" underlined and capitalised?

I don't know Evelyn but like to imagine this is from a
secret admirer which is why there are only initials.

An unsteady hand with a lot of love.
This one is from a copy of Tom Brown's School Days.

I've been surprised by how many people abbreviated Christmas to Xmas.

Amazing handwriting with a message which speaks for itself.
Featured in here: http://childoftheisle.blogspot.co.uk/

A tale of knights and chivalry - a perfect gift for a 21st birthday!
"The Dove in the Eagle's Nest"

From a time when a book was a treasured prize. How do I know?
Because it's survived since 1887!

This is from a biography of King George the Sixth.
A time-capsule.

I don't know who Charlotte Harrison or Miss Mary Smith were,
but I love the handwriting in this Book of Psalms.

This was given to Dad when we relocated to Orkney.

Intrigued as to whether Claude R Barber was related to Joan Margaret Pearson.
Maybe the book stayed in the house.

A fragile connection to my Grandfather (Maurice) who I never knew
and, in turn, my great-grandparents.

Beyond Frank I can't identify the names in this prayer book.
Interesting that the recipient's name comes second.

A shared Adventure story! Never seen the name Arnalyn before and
I can't track them down despite the unusual name.

A copy of The Ingoldsby Legends sent to Angelo on his 28th Birthday from his mother.
Beautiful!

We thought this Bible had no connection to us until we began
researching our family tree that we found a link.

Thoughtful gift of "Little Cat Lost" A book may have a thousand words,
but an inscription speaks a million more.

Two poetry books inscribed by the poet.
Not sure the significance of the pictures but they'll remain in the book.

We got this with a bundle of 19th Century Royal Navy items.
Many items were parted with, but we kept this book.

I can't expand on this inscription but love its sentiment entirely.

This is from a pocket bible given to my Great-Grandma from
my Granddad (George). He was 14 in 1941.

Two and a half years makes such a difference to this handwriting!
I don't know Elaine, but think I taught her father piano.

Sharing a corner of our world with someone who's shared their own,
creates a global community. Nothing teaches us more.

And finally, one of my favourite inscriptions.
Alex was 1 at the time, Mum wrote the inscription.

If you've got any inscriptions in your libraries, please share them. They are such beautiful sentiments and they're also treasure troves for genealogists.

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To Begin With... Getting Started

Beginning a book is a daunting prospect because, let's face it, people may not judge a book by its cover, but they certainly judge it by the first page. At the start of the year I attended an Xpo North event at which we were told starting a book with the weather was a bad idea. Problem. That's my default. It's true that the weather is a cliche introduction, but it's also quintessentially British and an instant scene-setter. Beginning with speech, as he suggested, is also a problem for me, as I like to know the character who is talking to me - and yes, I do see them as talking to ME.

So here's what I decided. Avoid speech, avoid the weather, and avoid anything that can be in any way subjective. My historical novels each begin with a statement of fact:

In a country at peace, men of war are confined to their homes and families.

       - Beneath Black Clouds and White

Petrovia Lodge was all that could be expected of a country house for a family of a not inconsiderable income.

       - Day's Dying Glory

War is so often solely about man’s desire to fight with man.

        - To Reason Why

Why? Because in this statement the writer can establish for the reader exactly the type of place or person they are about to meet. It's as though the reader has begun a cross-section of the character's world, and it is a world the writer has to hope they'll connect with.

So, just for fun, here are a few first lines from a handful of classic books I've drawn inspiration and encouragement from since I began writing. See how many you can recognise (all the answers are listed in the labels).

Feel free to add a comment of your favourite opening line - I'd love to know some of your favourites.

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Play the game (Ex Libris is a fantastic game of first and last lines. A chance to exercise your imagination as well as your bookly knowledge)

A Room to Relax - A Writer's Room

Our house is currently on the market. Last week a family came to look round and the little girl announced at once: "This is a boy's room".

Well, I'm not a boy but I invite you to have a look at a few of the objects adorning my room to see if you share her viewpoint. This is the room in which I do most of my writing. There are a few less antiques than last time, and a lot more yellow!

The Avengers Shelf - Mr Men meet Marvel!  A combination of two great franchises.
This shelf was made by my brother and has a secret compartment (currently empty, I'm afraid).
At the moment it is housing the books I have no intention of sharing!

Meet the Watcher Bears - Eight teddies dressed and equipped as the immortals
from my fantasy novels. These were clad as a gift from my youngest sister,

Growing up in Orkney no room is complete without a Jane Glue picture. We have one
in almost every room of the house. The Northern Lights were a source of magic and
mystery to me, and Dad was photographing them long before digital cameras were around.

My first piece of fan art! This is the family featured in "Beneath Black Clouds and White"
available here. This is the prequel to my first novel.

A cupboard of keepsakes

Without doubt one of my favourite books of all time! Here are D'Artagnan and
Athos (my ideal hero) - in Toby Mug form - from The Three Musketeers.

A pair of bejewelled tiger boxes - I have never seen any quite like this;
with their stands designed to look like coins and aggressive stance.
I'd love to know their provenance before I picked them up at an auction.

Inscription in a 1824 publication of Byron's conversations with Thomas Medwin.
I am left wishing my signature was as impressive as this one.

As close as I can afford to owning anything written by the man himself!
A facsimile of a letter from Byron to Hobhouse.

The Black Knight
This chap looks amazing when I turn the Tetris lamp on beside him!
This is a signed and framed engraving - also bought from the local auction!

My typewriter - still waiting for a new ribbon!

And a couple of books which stay on my desk. Great for dipping into for
inspiration, research and wit.

Every morning, from May through to August,
I am woken up by little rainbows from this.
This makes having to get up far more bearable.

A print of the Eynhallow Hoxa Tapestry. Eynhallow is an island in Orkney,
seeped in mystery and folklore. It sits in one of the most unpredictable and
perilous stretches of water in the world. The story of Thorodale was taught to us in
Primary School and has stuck with me ever since. This was a gift from another sister.

One of 500 prints of Lord Byron in Nottinghamshire. Not quite how I
imagined him to look, but a cute Boatswain and an insight into how
other people viewed the world and times of Byron.

My door signs.
V for Virginia, Team Snowman (which was the winning
partnership in our Table Football Competition two years ago - very cutthroat event!),
and a sign with my alter-ego that my brother made . 

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