Introduction
My Book
My exhibit focuses on the Exeter Book, a previously neglected manuscript that holds significant knowledge pertaining to the history of English literature. The Exeter Book is the largest of the four remaining poetry manuscripts of 10th century English origin. In 2016, this artefact was added to the Memory of the World Registrar after being recognized by UNESCO as an item of high cultural significance. It contains the works of Cynewulf and other unknown authors, and additionally accommodates influential poems such as the Wanderer.
Endangerment
The Exeter Book is endangered for several reasons. The age of this manuscript compromises its condition. Additionally, it is extremely rare. At the time of its creation, inscribing was preformed by hand. As a result, the Exeter Book is one of a kind. However, these are not uncommon factors for these types of manuscripts.
What makes the Exeter Manuscript particularly endangered is the damage done to it, especially through its past unconventional uses. The first pages that remain in-tact have deep cuts on them, most likely inflicted by a knife. It has been frequently suggested that this is due an alternative use as a cutting board. Throughout the book, there are also various circular stains that match up suspiciously well with that of a glue pot, or perhaps even a glass of beer. It seems that what we now recognize as treasure may have also been previously used as a common countertop. The lack of appreciation demonstrated by the Exeter Book’s historical owners compromised the integrity of the book and caused irreversible damages that destroyed some of its contents. There are rips and tears that cross out sections of poetry, as well as entire pages missing, their words tragically lost to time. This carelessness is thought to be largely due to a loss of interest and use of Old English: why preserve a book if you cannot (or don't care to) desipher its contents? However, after a modern renewal of academin interest in this era, we now recognize the Exeter Book as an item of high cultural and literary significance, so these losses are devastating.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the town of Exeter, including the Exeter Cathedral, was bombed during WWII. It was specifically targeted in a series of raids called the “Baedeker Raids”, in which Hitler ordered British towns and buildings of cultural significance to be destroyed. These raids took place over 3 days, and their destruction could have endangered or eliminated the Exeter Book. The Chapel of St. James at Exeter Cathedral was destroyed, along with a 13th century fabric residing there. Fortunately, the Exeter Book, which resides in the Bishop’s Palace, remained uncompromised.
Goal of Exhibit
This exhibit will trace the lifetime and influence of the Exeter Book. I will focus on 3 specific instances, or "stages", in time: when the Exeter Book is created, rediscovered, and refigured to explore the book’s changing influences on English culture, art, and literature across time. To address a recent “rebirth” of the Exeter Book, I will focus on its digitisation, in particular the most recent Exeter Book digital archive project (2021). This will explain how accessibility to the Exeter Book is improved for modern educational and/or recreational pursuits, and why this is important.