PARAGON REVIEW

Issue 5

EDITORIAL

Home brew

All the contributions to this fifth issue of Paragon Review have been produced by staff of the Brynmor Jones Library. The vast collection of letters left by Sir Charles Hotham reveal fascinating glimpses of eighteenth century life, and these have been skilfully interpreted by Amanda Capern and Ruth Pyle. Amongst other things, Hotham took a keen interest in the dramatic arts, with contacts who included John Kemble and Sarah Siddons. But, as Ruth Pyle and Rebecca Johnson discover, there is much more drama-related material to be found in the archives. The archives also contain a small but valuable collection of letters and other items of or relating to arguably Hull's most famous son, Andrew Marvell. Amanda Capern considers their importance. Sadly, several of these letters are in very poor condition, so they will shortly be receiving attention from our newest recruit, Jonathan Farley, who has now completed the setting up of the Brynmor Jones Library's conservation unit, which he describes.

The difficulties encountered by the lone female traveller are not new. Delving into the recently acquired journal of Fanny Davis, who ventured to the Far East from Britain in 1871, Amanda Capern and Lynda Crawford discover that travel really did broaden the mind. Nowadays, you can travel around the world without leaving your office - provided you have access to the Internet. Brian Dyson goes surfing, and discovers a few of the more useful items currently to be found on the World Wide Web. Of course, broadening the mind has historically had other connotations, particularly since the late 1950s and early 1960s. Drug abuse was one of the main concerns of Ben Parkin, the Labour MP perhaps best remembered for his exposure of Rachmanism and rent racketeering in London. Hilary Marsh examines Parkin's life and surviving papers.

Two men called Morris

The centenary of the death of William Morris has resulted in an outpouring of books, articles and exhibitions throughout Britain. Not to be outdone, staff in the Brynmor Jones Library produced their own excellent tribute entitled The well of art: a celebration of the life and work of William Morris, an exhibition which commenced on 23 September 1996. The illustration below is taken from one of the exhibits, namely the Kelmscott Press's printing of Morris's Love is enough, dating from 1897.