Some splendid books to put on your wishlist, from British Library

Robert and I browsed the British Library display on Sunday, after dropping my mum off at King's Cross (we were running late so we'll have to get the Station 9 3/4 picture on her return). And no visit is complete without a browse through the bookstore.

Robert is very cautious on these trips and sees it has hs job to act as my  financial conscience (and having just dropped a wad on a special book for him, I was, in fact, skint in the book budget dept)...but I came away with three splendid titles to recommend, and to put on the wishlist.

BTW: BL Bookshop says 20% off all online shopping in September! Fairly reasonably priced imo, even better w/ discount.

This one's for aryanhwy (in her search for images of ships)
Ships and Shipping in Medieval Manuscripts
Author:Joe Flatman
ISBN:978 0 7123 4960 4
Hardback, 144 pages, 280 x 216mm, 150 colour illustrations
£30
Vividly brought to life with 150 diverse images Ships and Shipping in Medieval Manuscripts paints a vibrant picture of maritime life during an era of unprecedented expansion.


Medieval Dress and Fashion
Author: Margaret Scott
ISBN:9780712306751 £17.95

ISBN:978 0 7123 5067 9 (ppbk)

208 pages, 280 x 216 mm, 140 colour illustrations
This is the first book deliberately to focus on dress as it is depicted in the illuminated manuscript, and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of illuminations as source material, as well as indicating how dress would have been understood by the manuscripts’ original owners.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Dressing the Great and the Good, c.840–c.1100
The Start of Fashion, c.1100–c.1300
Fashion and Formality, c.1300–c.1400
Dressing Everybody, c.1400–c.1500
Dressing the Present and the Past, c.1500–c.1570
Bibliography
Glossary Index 205

...and here I was torn - between fashion and calligraphy:

Guide to Scripts Used in English Writings up to 1500
Author:Jane Roberts
ISBN:9780712309035
Price £19.95 £15.96
328 pages, 12 colour and 70 b/w illustrations, 276 x 219 mm, Paperback
Despite a resurgence of interest in the history of the English language there is currently no book available to introduce readers to the scripts used in Old and Middle English writing. The best way to gain a sense of the changes in scripts across time is via visual example, and this book seeks to show the reader just why Middle English is different from Old English and at the same time to explain how the change is gradual.

As you can imagine, it was hard to pry me out of the shop.

Invasion of the futon snatcher....

The Cute is strong with this one.

Madam NoName followed us home last Monday - one of the very few cats in our neighbourhood to respond to friendly overtures by humans. Most of them slink away, or run faster.
This one trotted into our yard, and after some coaxing, up the stairs. Robert prepared some off-the-cuff lamb mince and oatmeal, which was gratefully received, then proceeded to case the flat, settling on the couch with much kneading, purring and head-butting.
We put her out that night, and she seemed unperturbed, and woke us again in the morning.
This 'routine' carried on all week - her spending days on the couch, chatting to Robert, eating and drinking, but more or less contentedly going out for the night - so on Friday we took her to a vet. No chip, no collar. Very good condition, about 1.5 - 2 yrs old. Can't tell if she's spayed (or pregnant) w/out opening her up.
She looks clean and healthy, and is evidently housetrained, used to bowls, couches, and catflaps (though not quite confident enough to open one on her own), so she shows every sign of domestication. So I'm wondering where her owners are.
She's very, very sweet. Very easy to get used to.
Robert is, of course, allergic  - but he's the one offering warm snacks, fresh laps, and cat toys.
Yesterday she didn't show up at all. Robert was very sad, and purred and headbutted me looking for cuddles.
This morning Madame was back - no explanation. Some thanks we get!
So this evening, we're trying a paper collar, courtesy of RSPCA, on her, to indicate that she's visiting us, does she belong to you? I'm going to make up notices for local telephone poles.
I'm still not sure if we're being adopted - we may be a relationship of convenience! But we seem to be going through the motions with intent.