Bibliotheca: Entry 2 - The Bibliophile Strikes Again

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today we’re exploring my latest pile of new books! From Viking longships to cuneiform tablets, there’s probably something for everyone. So, grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let’s wander a little deeper into the past.

I won’t lie… things may have gotten a little out of hand last week. But before we dive into the book haul itself, I’d like to give a quick shout-out to the staff at the Oxfam bookshop in Dundee, who very kindly put some books aside overnight for me and my housemate. We truly appreciated it—and those small acts of kindness make my little book goblin heart sing.

First up, I picked up five books from the Osprey Men-at-Arms series. I had to stop myself from getting more. I’ll admit to enjoying military history and the study of arms and armour, so these books are like little gems—and finding a whole shelf of them in a charity shop was a true test of my self-control.

• Roman Legionary 58 BC - AD 69

• Siege Warfare in the Roman World 146 BC - AD 378

• The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan

• Rome’s Enemies (3) - Parthians and Sassanid Persians

• Viking Longship

I also picked up:

• Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World by Philip Matyszak

• Ancient Warfare - A Very Short Introduction by Harry Sidebottom

• The Roman Empire - A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Kelly

You’d think that would be enough, right?

…Of course not.

There were a few titles I’d been eyeing for a while, so I treated myself—some replacements for books I left behind when I moved, and a few irresistible new additions. The haul came from Topping & Company, The British Museum, and English Heritage:

From Topping & Co.

• Runes by Martin Findell

• Cuneiform by Irving Finkel and Johnathan Taylor

• Latin inscriptions by Dirk Booms

• The Aircraft Book: The Definitive Visual History

• The Tank Book: The Definitive Visual History of Armoured Vehicles

  
  

Book shopping tip: If you're looking for a book from a museum, check your local and independent bookshops first. Some of these books are British Museum publications and were cheaper from Topping & Co.

From The British Museum

• The Cat in Ancient Egypt by Jaromir Malek

• Ancient Origins: Korean by J.K. Jackson

• Ancient Origins: Indian by J.K. Jackson

• Ancient Origins: Egyptian by J.K. Jackson

  
  

From English Heritage

• Collins Little Books - English Castles

• The Time Travellers Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer

• How to be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman

• Medieval Graffiti by Mathew Champion

As you can see, it was a wildly successful week. The side-eye I received from my housemate as the deliveries kept rolling in was... well, entirely deserved. But was it worth it?

Absolutely.

Now, I should get to adding these books to my database.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm.

🐾 I was not consulted on this book haul. However, the empty cardboard boxes were greatly appreciated. 8/10, would nap in again. 🐾