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The Dartmouth College Library
has acquired a 31/4 x 2-inch book of hours that was once used by a young girl
who was likely a princess in mid-16th-century France. Books of hours were among
the most prevalent texts in late-medieval Europe and draw their name from the
Hours of the Virgin, a cycle of prayers popular among the Catholic laity.
 This 16th-century book of hours, written in Latin and French
vernacular, was recently acquired by Dartmouth. (photo by Sarah Memmi)
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“It’s just beautiful,” says Jay Satterfield, director of Rauner Special Collections
Library, where the book is housed. “It provides a window into how
illustrations and design helped certain privileged children learn to read,” he
says, adding that the book’s pages are worn from a child’s fingers.
The book is clearly made for a child, Satterfield explains, because of its
size and reassuring headings, such as “Prayer for the Evening,” and “Before
Confession.” Also, unlike most books of hours made for adults, the book
includes the complete devotions Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostle’s Creed.
Associate Professor of Comparative Literature Michelle
Warren, who specializes in medieval studies, says she is excited to incorporate
it into one of her courses in the near future. “It’s important for students to
experience texts in the same hands-on, multisensory way that they would have
been experienced over 400 years ago,” she says. Warren adds that she could see
the book being used in many disciplines, such as religion, art history,
literature, and history.
Jeffrey Horrell, dean of libraries and librarian of the College, says,
“Dartmouth is fortunate to have acquired this extraordinary book of hours
through the generosity of the William L. Bryant Foundation Library Fund, not
only for the exquisite object it is, but for how it will inspire Dartmouth
undergraduates and visiting scholars alike in their discovery and
research.”
This book was purchased from a gallery in France, and it is one of
approximately a dozen books of hours now owned by Dartmouth. It is available
immediately to Dartmouth faculty and students and other scholars.
By STEVEN J. SMITH
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