This research was focussed on the appearance of reading aids (e.g. table of contents, index, pilcrows, pagination, spacing etc.) in early printed books written in Middle Dutch and Latin. Several...Show moreThis research was focussed on the appearance of reading aids (e.g. table of contents, index, pilcrows, pagination, spacing etc.) in early printed books written in Middle Dutch and Latin. Several aids were examined with emphasis on how and why the appeared (or lacked) in early printed books.Show less
This research demonstrates and analyses a quantitative approach to literary criticism in the Digital Humanities by predominantly aiming to answer the question: is there a clearly distinguishable...Show moreThis research demonstrates and analyses a quantitative approach to literary criticism in the Digital Humanities by predominantly aiming to answer the question: is there a clearly distinguishable female writing style that is a shared foundation of female author’s novels in the Victorian period? In order to achieve this goal, a number of steps had to be taken. First, a foundation for this research’s case study was established by explaining the socio-cultural history of women writers in the Victorian period and by detailing the history of the Digital Humanities and computational research. Secondly, the compilation of the corpus and the methodology of the case study were elaborately explained and all decisions justified. The predominant terminology – the terms writing style and gender – were clarified as well in order to exclude confusion or multiple interpretations of these elements. Thirdly, the results of the case study were presented and interpreted. Here a conscious decision was made to only discuss these outliers briefly instead of examining them with close reading as this study predominantly focused on similarities instead of abnormalities in writing style between women in the Victorian period. Lastly, the limits of this study were discussed in detail and suggestions for future research were made.Show less
El Saco de Amberes is an unedited play whose authority has been questioned by academics -the question remains of whether it was written by Calderón de la Barca, as the two copies that are left...Show moreEl Saco de Amberes is an unedited play whose authority has been questioned by academics -the question remains of whether it was written by Calderón de la Barca, as the two copies that are left affirm, or Rojas Zorrilla. This is an edition of the text that can be found in the eighteenth-century prints found in the Castilla-la-Mancha library and the Institut del Teatre, the two only copies left of this play. This edition includes a thorough introduction and a a version of the text translated to English.Show less
During the late nineteenth and twentieth century newspaper front pages have evolved quite homogeneously across Western society. At the same time, the general public became much more familiar with...Show moreDuring the late nineteenth and twentieth century newspaper front pages have evolved quite homogeneously across Western society. At the same time, the general public became much more familiar with images and imagery thanks to the rise of photography and the growing popularity and accessibility of art. In this thesis, it is researched how newspaper front pages function as free-standing images themselves. First, the technological, societal, and cultural history of newspapers is discussed. Next, several art historical theories on composition are discussed. These two elements are put together in the third chapter for a case study of 100 years of front pages of Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. The compositions of the front pages of this Dutch regional newspaper aren't very pleasing from an art historical perspective, but do tend to some form of balance. The recognisability of newspaper front pages is confirmed with this research.Show less
This thesis examines the relevance of the use of computational methods for literary interpretations on a micro-level. The value of using computational methods on this level is examined partly by...Show moreThis thesis examines the relevance of the use of computational methods for literary interpretations on a micro-level. The value of using computational methods on this level is examined partly by means of a literature review of earlier studies that have incorporated such methods, as well as with the aid of a case study of Hermann Hesse’s 1922 novel Siddhartha.Show less
The mission of the Dutch public library was, and remains to be “the elevation of the people” through the access to information and the culture of reading. Unfortunately, the Dutch public library...Show moreThe mission of the Dutch public library was, and remains to be “the elevation of the people” through the access to information and the culture of reading. Unfortunately, the Dutch public library sector today deals with declining numbers in the number of library members, library visits, library branches, loans, and the scope of the collection. These facts are often assigned to budget cuts, but likewise to societal changes. Dutch citizens are increasingly making use of the Internet and digital media, and are making less and less use of traditional print media. Therefore, the Dutch reading culture is turning more and more into a digital reading culture. That is why Dutch public libraries – to remain relevant in the increasingly digital society – need to think about a new or adjusted realization of their mission. Public libraries in Scandinavia show that success can be found in a combination of the modern and the traditional. Most library visitors like to have a public space where they can physically meet and talk – surrounded by filled bookcases – but, simultaneously, to have access to new digital technology. Therefore, Dutch public libraries should attempt to find a middle way between the modern and the traditional. They should continue to offer a public place for the local community, with the traditional library services, but likewise offer access to digital technology.Show less
The Revised Classified Materia Medica is a revision of Chinese medical encyclopedia, Materia Medica with Evidence, compiled by Tang Shenwei in the Song dynasty (1097-1100). This book was published...Show moreThe Revised Classified Materia Medica is a revision of Chinese medical encyclopedia, Materia Medica with Evidence, compiled by Tang Shenwei in the Song dynasty (1097-1100). This book was published and reprinted many times by different publishers in history. Why this medical encyclopedia enjoyed such a great success and popularity over five hundred years, especially in the Ming dynasty? Following Darnton’s communication circuit model, this thesis investigates individual phases in the circuit to present those editions published by commercial publishers, new players with a growing influence on the publishing market, during the late Ming dynasty. Specific political, social, economic and cultural factors in the late Ming dynasty can explain the enduring success of this medical encyclopedia during that period. The highly commercialized Ming economy and the development of science and technology gave rise to a booming printing industry. And the flourishing state of the late Ming commercial publishing industry and the popularity of regularly used self-help information books further stimulated the production and wide distribution of commercially published illustrated medical works. Besides, against the background of recurrent and persistent epidemics, and because of the long-established values of Neo-Confucian philosophy, the growing class of literati developed a habit of reading medical texts for self-treatment and caring for their family members. Revised Classified Materia Medica even found its way to some neighboring countries of China, but genuine western readers of Chinese books would not emerge until the nineteenth century.Show less
This edition elaborately discusses the letters between London based nurseryman William Malcolm (d.1798) and David van Royen (1727-1799), professor of Botany and the director of the Hortus Botanicus...Show moreThis edition elaborately discusses the letters between London based nurseryman William Malcolm (d.1798) and David van Royen (1727-1799), professor of Botany and the director of the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, written between 1768-1773. The research focuses on how this correspondence gives insight in the study of botany in Leiden and the development of its botanical garden, the international plant trade and the extensive network of people involved, and the close relationship between science and commerce in the second half of the eighteenth century.Show less
De Militaire Willemsorde, a Dutch play by Rosier Faassen, can be found in the Special Collections of the Leiden University Library. It exists in several different versions, in print as well as a...Show moreDe Militaire Willemsorde, a Dutch play by Rosier Faassen, can be found in the Special Collections of the Leiden University Library. It exists in several different versions, in print as well as a manuscript in beautiful nineteenth century script, dating from 1873 until presumably 1885. This historical drama about a family torn apart by a young soldier going to war had never since been edited. After all these years, a new edition was made so that yet again this humorous play with experiences recognizable to many generations can be performed and studied anew. Furthermore, a biographical element also appears in the edition whereby parts of Faassen’s auto-biography, which also has not been edited since the late nineteenth century, was used. To provide access to the text for a broader audience, the text was translated from Dutch to English. Much of the same considerations being used to edit the text were also used to prepare the translation. Hunter’s Editing Early Modern Texts as well as Mathijsen’s Naar de Letter was used in the editing process, as a framework and point of guidance. The edition takes the form of what Mathijsen calls a ‘study-edition’ , and contains a historical, critical edition of the text, as well as a justification of the choice of copy text, extensive commentary on the text, including historical and biographical information as well as a stylistic analysis of the text (based on Leech and Short). The translation is preceded by a theoretical framework on the process and strategies that were used in the translation of this drama from the nineteenth century. The overall procedure for the translation of the text was centered around the notions of domestication versus foreignization (Venuti) as well as notions of historicization and modernization, and performability (Bassnett and Lefevere). Vinay and Darbelnet’s translation procedures were discussed and used in the annotated translation, to describe the procedures used for the variety of translation problems that arose during the process. Lefevere’s work on translation as rewriting is especially relevant here, as he also remarks that “the same basic process of rewriting is at work in translation, historiography, anthologization, criticism, and editing” (9). In Lefevere’s words lies the suggestion that a natural relationship exists between translation studies and the world of the editor and philologist, which in reality seems to be a struggled one. Translation is often underrated by philologists, with their translated texts being used for instrumental purposes. A discussion about the mutual importance of translation and philology, and the recognition awarded in their respective fields was necessary here. The question: “How can the fields of philology and translation be reconciled in the edition and translation of De Militaire Willemsorde?” is answered in the final chapter.Show less
This thesis has analysed the publisher Jacobus van Egmont and the place he occupied on the competitive popular book market of early eighteenth century Amsterdam. The thesis focuses on how the...Show moreThis thesis has analysed the publisher Jacobus van Egmont and the place he occupied on the competitive popular book market of early eighteenth century Amsterdam. The thesis focuses on how the societal and cultural changes of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century are represented in Van Egmont's list of publications and how these changes influenced Van Egmont's strategy and career.Show less
This thesis has examined the presence of English books in the libraries of three well-read Dutchmen in the seventeenth century: Balthasar Lydius, Johannes de Laet and Justus Turcq. Consequently,...Show moreThis thesis has examined the presence of English books in the libraries of three well-read Dutchmen in the seventeenth century: Balthasar Lydius, Johannes de Laet and Justus Turcq. Consequently, it has examined the influence of Anglo-Dutch relations on the contents of the libraries of Dutchmen in the Golden Age.Show less
This thesis examines the buying behaviour of Dutch women during the eighteenth century and determines whether a change can be detected in the kinds of works that women bought. The research is based...Show moreThis thesis examines the buying behaviour of Dutch women during the eighteenth century and determines whether a change can be detected in the kinds of works that women bought. The research is based on the female customers that came to Luchtmans, an academic bookshop in Leiden, and thus the main source of this study is the extensive archive that the firm has left behind. At the start of the eighteenth century, a wealthy mother primarily visited the shop to purchase school books for her young children. However, as the century progressed, an increasing number of unmarried women came to buy newspapers and novels, as they had more freedom to pursue their own interests. Although these women were certainly not representative of the general female population in Leiden, an interesting shift presented itself when comparing women from two time periods in the eighteenth century.Show less
