Filling the Gaps

Notes in the margins of early modern books can be very revealing about their readers’ lives and interests.

Jessica G. Purdy | Published in History Today Volume 72 Issue 9 September 2022

17th-century manicule and notes in the margin of translations of Aristotle. Courtesy of the Penn Library.

Writing in a book is a divisive action in the modern day. The degree of severity of this potential offence often depends on the nature of the book being marked and the type of mark being made. For some bibliophiles, marking the most meaningful paragraphs of their favourite novels is the ultimate act of appreciation; for others, it’s the ultimate act of defilement.