Eddison’s library
Eddison made provisions in his will for his collection of Icelandic works, his saga library, to be donated to Trinity College, Oxford, where he was an undergraduate, and for a selection of general literary works from his library to be donated to Marlborough Public Library, Wiltshire, close to the home he built for his retirement.
Saga Library
Eddison’s collection of Icelandic works includes sagas in the original Icelandic, English translations of the sagas, dictionaries and grammars for Old and Modern Icelandic, and critical studies of Iceland and its literature. Many of the works are inscribed by Eddison to record his ownership and some have further annotations by him. The collection was transferred some years ago from Trinity College to the English Faculty Library, University of Oxford, where it is available, reference only, to accredited scholars. Researchers should contact the library in advance to make an appointment.
English Faculty Library
St. Cross Building
Manor Road
Oxford
OX1 3UQ
http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/english
Literary works
Books bequeathed to Marlborough Public Library include works by many of Eddison’s favourite authors, Homer, Webster, Swinburne, Flaubert, Ruskin, Guy de Maupassant and Anatole France. Although not listed on the main library catalogue, these works can be consulted in the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, and are distinguished by a bookplate, indicating that they are part of the Eddison Bequest.
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Cocklebury Road
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN15 3QN
