iNarr

[deleted]

He sort of answered your question below. Here's a permalink and a copy-paste for convenience:

Q: Do you think those that left John behind knew he was still alive?

A:

THey left him and it happened. No nice way to say it. Some folks denied it for a long time. They're wrong or lying. No nice way to say that either. I chose to not focus on people I don't respect in my book because that's not what the book is about. It's about John and CCT

Q: Do you think Slabinski is to blame for leaving Chapman behind?

A:

It was 100% his responsiblity to account for his men. So yes, he's responsible. THe other guys didn't know John was left behind till Slab told them before they made their final retreat. I do not think he should have received the Medal. But it wasn't his choice. He certainly didn't ask for it. But it shouldn't be awarded if one of your men was left behind alive. Nothing about that situation was good and the responsibility for what happened after and the politics belongs to a few people without integrity I won't name beyond what I put in the book. THose were tough questions but that's my position

Oxford grad student here. First, let me thank you for the work you and your team do, and also congratulate you on the full opening of the new Weston Library! Working with countless manuscripts is one of my favorite parts about being at Oxford, and you guys make that both possible and enjoyable.

I wondered if I could take you back a few years and ask about your time as Keeper of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts at the Bodleian. Any unusual stories you could share about the library's collections or its lenders?

During induction, we were told a rather grizzly story about a woman that bled on a manuscript a year or two back, and how that caused quite the emergency--not for the woman, mind you, but the manuscript. I had heard that one of the librarians had to hold it upside down to prevent the blood running down and further damaging the pages. What a weird call that must have been for the conservators. Any similarly bizarre things to share, either from your time at the library, or from stories you've heard from others whilst working here at Oxford?

FYI, they give tours of the Duke Humphries library to anyone. You'd only be able to visit the Arts end because the Selden end is still an active study space, but it's the more interesting end of the Library anyway.

Also, if you're still in Oxford and eligible for a readers card, you can still work and study in there if you like. But you'd have to register for the card, I think. I'm not sure that alumni status grants reader access to the Bodleian post-graduation.

but we did use the pelts of a thousand sheep to insulate the roof of the Old Bodleian (very sustainable material)

Ha! That's great. I hadn't heard that one yet. Where were they used in the Old Bod? I'd assume Duke Humphries, Upper Reading Rooms, etc.?

Also, for those who might not know, the Old Bodleian is located very near to where local scribes worked in Oxford during the middle ages. I always thought that was rather fitting, having a library placed where books were formerly created. Apparently we even have some books in the Bodleian that were created on that site several hundred years back.