A man who is trying to read being disturbed by a family in conversation. Wood engraving by Swain after F. Barnard.

Thomas Denman. Stipple engraving.

Saint Mary Magdalen. Engraving by L.M. Halbou after Molenchon after A. van der Werff.

A boy so absorbed in reading the magazine Furendo that he does not notice a cat eating his plate of fish. Colour process print, 1909.

A butcher's boy, reading to improve his mind, is so absorbed in his book that his delivery of meat is stolen by a passer-by. Coloured etching by T.L. Busby, 1826.

A woman reads a book during her toilet and does not concentrate on what she is doing. Aquatint.

A young woman is leaning against a wall reading a book as snowflakes fall. Wood engraving by Dalziel Brothers, 1863, after E. Burne-Jones.

Dr. Marsh. Photograph by Maull & Co.

An old woman falling asleep over reading a book. Etching by F. Novelli after Rembrandt van Rijn.

A young shepherdess reading an improving book while looking after her flock. Line engraving by C. Mellan, 1680.

Oscar William Clark. Photograph.

Saint Mary (the Blessed Virgin) with the Christ Child. Engraving by J.T. Richomme, 1836, after Raphael.

1 print : mezzotint ; image 15.2 x 11.4 cm

A young woman (Miss Jones) reading. Mezzotint, 17--, after Catherine Read.

xv, 231 pages : illustrations, facsimiles ; 22 cm.

Owners, annotators and the signs of reading / edited by Robin Myers, Michael Harris and Giles Mandelbrote.

1 drawing : pen and ink, over pencil ; image approximately 14 x 17.5 cm

A man checking a book out of a public library gains the equivalent of going on holiday. Pen and ink drawing by Steve Simpson and Robert D. Dangoor, 2012.

The case for books : past, present, future / Robert Darnton.

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Books and reading

Images from the collections

Images referencing Books and reading

Works from the collections

A young woman (Miss Jones) reading. Mezzotint, 17--, after Catherine Read.

Owners, annotators and the signs of reading / edited by Robin Myers, Michael Harris and Giles Mandelbrote.

Saint Mary Magdalen. Engraving by L.M. Halbou after Molenchon after A. van der Werff.

A man checking a book out of a public library gains the equivalent of going on holiday. Pen and ink drawing by Steve Simpson and Robert D. Dangoor, 2012.

The case for books : past, present, future / Robert Darnton.