Dr. Tara Lyons
@tarallyons.bsky.social
Professor; Old books, women and libraries, early modern book storage; book trade, English literature, drama, cats, horses, bees, and little furry critters
In 1671, Rachel (Fane) Bouchier, the Countess of Bath, purchased £200 of books for the library at @tcddublin.bsky.social The books were housed together and known as “The Countess of Bath’s Library.” This week I reconstructed the bequest, with the help of the amazing TCD librarians.
June 26, 2025 at 11:06 AM
In 1671, Rachel (Fane) Bouchier, the Countess of Bath, purchased £200 of books for the library at @tcddublin.bsky.social The books were housed together and known as “The Countess of Bath’s Library.” This week I reconstructed the bequest, with the help of the amazing TCD librarians.
So many baby horses in Ireland this time of year! I’m in love 😍
June 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
So many baby horses in Ireland this time of year! I’m in love 😍
Trolley #2 complete! The Countess of Bath, Rachel (Fane) Bourchier purchased books for Trinity Dublin College in 1671. One was Kircher’s Oedipus Aegyptiocus (1654), a fascinating (albeit flawed) work of orientalist scholarship.
June 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Trolley #2 complete! The Countess of Bath, Rachel (Fane) Bourchier purchased books for Trinity Dublin College in 1671. One was Kircher’s Oedipus Aegyptiocus (1654), a fascinating (albeit flawed) work of orientalist scholarship.
Trolley #1. I’m at Trinity Dublin for the next two weeks to reconstruct the Countess of Bath’s library. Thanks to the library staff for helping make this happen. Now, back to work— there are more than a hundred volumes to examine. Happy days ahead.
June 17, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Trolley #1. I’m at Trinity Dublin for the next two weeks to reconstruct the Countess of Bath’s library. Thanks to the library staff for helping make this happen. Now, back to work— there are more than a hundred volumes to examine. Happy days ahead.
First Talk from the new project is in the books!
April 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
First Talk from the new project is in the books!
Tiny vellum-bound books in the Egerton Traveling Library (1615), likely gifted to Thomas Egerton by William Hakewill.
March 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Tiny vellum-bound books in the Egerton Traveling Library (1615), likely gifted to Thomas Egerton by William Hakewill.
My article "Reading a Lost Book: Ben Jonson’s Epigrammes (c.1612) and Disposable Authorship" won the ELR journal Award for Outstanding Essay (Senior scholar division) for 2023-24. I wrote a little something below about what an award like this means to me. www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/elr...
December 23, 2024 at 7:20 PM
My article "Reading a Lost Book: Ben Jonson’s Epigrammes (c.1612) and Disposable Authorship" won the ELR journal Award for Outstanding Essay (Senior scholar division) for 2023-24. I wrote a little something below about what an award like this means to me. www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/elr...
This catalogue is missing its buddies. Anyone have a 17th catalogue with “4* (format) Cat. #” written on the foredge? This seems to be the first in a series. (Huntington Library, San Marino, RB 58530).
December 20, 2024 at 4:17 AM
This catalogue is missing its buddies. Anyone have a 17th catalogue with “4* (format) Cat. #” written on the foredge? This seems to be the first in a series. (Huntington Library, San Marino, RB 58530).
I won the ‘24-25 College Teaching Award in the Humanities Division. Small win in a big war on the #humanities
December 18, 2024 at 4:37 PM
I won the ‘24-25 College Teaching Award in the Humanities Division. Small win in a big war on the #humanities
New faculty profile pic?
December 13, 2024 at 3:26 PM
New faculty profile pic?
Puppies in a library catalogue! Lists of books AND hounds and terriers owned by the Brydges family at Avington Park. I want to know what trouble “Spanker” and “Wildman” got into as a pups.
December 10, 2024 at 5:16 PM
Puppies in a library catalogue! Lists of books AND hounds and terriers owned by the Brydges family at Avington Park. I want to know what trouble “Spanker” and “Wildman” got into as a pups.
Some of my favorite pieces from the Lumen show at @gettymuseum.bsky.social A 🔆truly enlightening🔆 exhibit. #rarebooks
December 7, 2024 at 10:51 PM
Some of my favorite pieces from the Lumen show at @gettymuseum.bsky.social A 🔆truly enlightening🔆 exhibit. #rarebooks
Always fun to find a volume bound by Samuel Mearne from Charles II’s library. This one contains a catalogue of the library at St. James’s Palace. Huntington Library, San Marino, HM 108.
December 5, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Always fun to find a volume bound by Samuel Mearne from Charles II’s library. This one contains a catalogue of the library at St. James’s Palace. Huntington Library, San Marino, HM 108.
Lady Elizabeth Hastings’ library catalogue, books given to her nephew, George. It’s too late for my project on 17th c. women’s libraries but still fun to browse. (Huntington Library, Hastings Inventories, Box 2). #herbook #bookhistory #bibliography
November 23, 2024 at 5:46 PM
Lady Elizabeth Hastings’ library catalogue, books given to her nephew, George. It’s too late for my project on 17th c. women’s libraries but still fun to browse. (Huntington Library, Hastings Inventories, Box 2). #herbook #bookhistory #bibliography
Feeling Blue? Here’s Boccacio’s Decameron (1573) printed on blue paper. So fancy! Huntington Library San Marino, CA. Rare Books 113022.
November 16, 2024 at 4:29 AM
Feeling Blue? Here’s Boccacio’s Decameron (1573) printed on blue paper. So fancy! Huntington Library San Marino, CA. Rare Books 113022.
The embroidered spine compartments are a nice touch!! 17th century Embroidered Binding, The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA, RB 62041.
November 10, 2024 at 5:23 PM
The embroidered spine compartments are a nice touch!! 17th century Embroidered Binding, The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA, RB 62041.
Hey friends! This is what a newly minted Full Professor looks like!
May 16, 2024 at 8:13 PM
Hey friends! This is what a newly minted Full Professor looks like!
New Year, New Article! My research on Seneca His Tenne Tragedies (1581) and the Shakespeare First Folio is out! This whole issue edited by Silvia Bigliazzi is bloody 🔥— Enjoy, it’s open access: rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa03/memor...
January 3, 2024 at 6:12 AM
New Year, New Article! My research on Seneca His Tenne Tragedies (1581) and the Shakespeare First Folio is out! This whole issue edited by Silvia Bigliazzi is bloody 🔥— Enjoy, it’s open access: rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa03/memor...
HUZZAH! This issue is dynamite!! I'm really proud to be printed alongside so many of my favorite people. Look: the image on the cover is from the Bodleian Binder's Book. My essay is a punchy myth-buster featuring the playbooks in the pre-1625 Bodleian Library and their bindings.
December 19, 2023 at 5:29 PM
HUZZAH! This issue is dynamite!! I'm really proud to be printed alongside so many of my favorite people. Look: the image on the cover is from the Bodleian Binder's Book. My essay is a punchy myth-buster featuring the playbooks in the pre-1625 Bodleian Library and their bindings.