New book on the history of the University of St Andrews, by the Head of Special Collections, available now!

speccoll
Tuesday 11 October 2011

A new book on the history of the University of St Andrews has just been released.  Launched on 28 September, Ever to Excel: An lllustrated History of the University of St Andrews has been published as a collaborative venture by the University and Dundee University Press, and has been authored by Norman Reid, the Head of Special Collections. It is only the second time that a single-volume history of the University has been attempted, the last being in 1946, by one of Dr Reid’s predecessors, Ronald Cant. Unlike the former work, however, the new history is lavishly illustrated and is aimed at the general reader. Exploiting the University’s own rich archival holdings, it introduces the reader to the vibrant and often turbulent 600-year story of the University and its town, set in the wider historical contexts of society, religion, politics and intellectual thought. So far, it has been well received: comments have ranged from the eloquent “excellent and beautifully written”, “a rare delight” and “eminently readable … beautifully supported by an array of treasured photographs”, to the more prosaic “f…ing brilliant”!

It is the second publication produced by the Special Collections Department to support celebration of the University’s 600th anniversary.  A year ago, Treasures of St Andrews University Library, edited by members of the department, hit the bookshelves. Another luxuriously illustrated book, it highlights 50 stunning items from the Special Collections, each explained by a brief essay, and all prefaced by a short history of the Library.

Both books are available from local bookshops.  The Treasures of St Andrews University Library may also be purchased through http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/specialcollections/Treasuresbook/ , and Ever to Excel through http://www.dundee.ac.uk/dup/books/evertoexcel/ .

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2 thoughts on "New book on the history of the University of St Andrews, by the Head of Special Collections, available now!"

  • Sean Connery tells the story of St Andrews: “Ever to Excel” « Echoes from the Vault
    Monday 14 May 2012, 5.16pm

    [...] a drop in the ocean compared to the takings of other block-buster movies!  The title of the film, like the recently published history of the University, is “Ever to Excel” – none of us in Special Collections have yet seen it, but we all [...]

    Reply
  • Showing off this summer! — exhibitions and conferences | Echoes from the Vault
    Thursday 25 July 2013, 12.01pm

    […] and represented. Our bookstall, selling the Treasures of St Andrews University Library and Ever to Excel was at the heart of the refreshment zone and we had lot of interesting conversations over […]

    Reply

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