This research aimed to study the effects of the Second World War on the Koninklijke Bibliotheek. The effects of the cultural politics imposed by the Nazis were considered, including censorship for...Show moreThis research aimed to study the effects of the Second World War on the Koninklijke Bibliotheek. The effects of the cultural politics imposed by the Nazis were considered, including censorship for libraries. In addition, the effects of the threat of air raids were examined, such as the measures the library took to safeguard their collection. Finally, the many effects of the war on the functioning of library services and activities are analysed in this study.Show less
Just as many other towns in the Dutch Republic, Leiden had a flourishing book industry during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Of a few of the Leiden printers, active in these centuries,...Show moreJust as many other towns in the Dutch Republic, Leiden had a flourishing book industry during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Of a few of the Leiden printers, active in these centuries, inventories of their printing offices have survived, mainly as notarial documents. In this thesis, the different type faces and sizes of fourteen Leiden printing offices in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are analysed to give a better view of the Leiden book industry in this time.Show less
The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the possible presence of Italian texts within private Dutch libraries; the final purpose of this work is to investigate the reason behind the presence of...Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to analyse the possible presence of Italian texts within private Dutch libraries; the final purpose of this work is to investigate the reason behind the presence of such texts in the Netherlands, whether it is linked to cases of cultural transfer or examples of diffusion of this language in the Netherlands.Show less
The thesis is a selection from the handwritten diaries of Dr. Maria Madi, a non-Jewish doctor who lived in Budapest between 1941 and 1945. In the diaries’ entries Dr. Madi describes everything she...Show moreThe thesis is a selection from the handwritten diaries of Dr. Maria Madi, a non-Jewish doctor who lived in Budapest between 1941 and 1945. In the diaries’ entries Dr. Madi describes everything she experiences: on one hand, she mentions air raids, Nazi Propaganda, and food rationing, on the other she talks about personal subjects, such as missing her daughter, who immigrated to the United States. Moreover, in 1944 she hides in her home for several months two Jewish people, an incredible brave act that will make Madi a “Righteous Among the Nations.”Show less
This thesis aims at presenting Gregorio Leti (1630 - 1701) through the books he owned and using the auction catalogue established at his death. This unique approach paints a picture of a well-read...Show moreThis thesis aims at presenting Gregorio Leti (1630 - 1701) through the books he owned and using the auction catalogue established at his death. This unique approach paints a picture of a well-read man with connections in influential literary circles and interest in literary and philosophical topics. This analysis required the creation of an extensive database, transcribing and fixing mistakes from the auction catalogue from 1701. This database supported the quantitative and qualitative observations on Leti’s reading habits and interests. Quantitatively, the database agreed with the usual accounts of Leti's life as a typical seventeenth-century academic and educated historian, accounts that have been discussed in the few bibliographies focusing on Leti. Qualitatively, this thesis highlighted a thoroughness and range of interest matching the profile of a seventeenth-century scholar. While analysing Leti’s life and personality, this thesis also introduces some changes in the seventeenth century, including an analysis of philosophical and literary movements that became more prominent in this period.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
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 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
Photography and identity, of the photographer, and of the photographed places, have a close relationship to one another. This espeically is a central theme in street photography. This thesis aims...Show morePhotography and identity, of the photographer, and of the photographed places, have a close relationship to one another. This espeically is a central theme in street photography. This thesis aims to explore street photography photobooks' ability to reflect the identity of the photographer, as well as the identities and impressions of different cities through the creative process of bookmaking by photographers. This study starts with a historical and theoretical framework to explain the significance of photobook as a genre, as well as the meaning and values of street photography. The research then presents case studies on six publications produced by the famous Dutch photographer and photobook maker, Ed van der Elsken, in order to examine the underlying narratives, themes and ideas in the photobooks.Show less
The history of child labour, compulsory education, mental illness and the Second World War are fascinating and many books have been written about these subjects. However, Wolter’s autobiography...Show moreThe history of child labour, compulsory education, mental illness and the Second World War are fascinating and many books have been written about these subjects. However, Wolter’s autobiography shows how all of these four themes influenced his life. Through this edition of his autobiography, these four themes will actually become a reality instead of just history.Show less
Jakob Verseveldt (1903-1987) was one of the first men to travel from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies on behalf of the Jan Pieterszoon Coen Foundation. This society was located in Batavia ...Show moreJakob Verseveldt (1903-1987) was one of the first men to travel from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies on behalf of the Jan Pieterszoon Coen Foundation. This society was located in Batavia (modern Jakarta), where it ran an all-boys boarding school. The foundation was partly funded by Henri Deterding, director of the Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij (Batavian Petroleum Company, B.P.M., now known as Shell). This was used to fund the expedition of ‘Deterdingers’. Verseveldt was part this group of ‘Deterdingers’, young Dutch students and teachers who were sent to the Dutch East Indies to learn about teaching methods in the colony. To a large extent, however, the trip was meant as propaganda for the Dutch colonial government and the economic exploitation of the East Indies.Show less
A selection from the Dutch edition of Bernhard von Breydenbach's travel journal, in which he describes his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The result is a historical-critical edition.
During the last years of the reign of Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany – from 1670 until his death in 1713 – the Florentine court faced the inevitable decline of the Medici dynasty. Cosimo’s zeal...Show moreDuring the last years of the reign of Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany – from 1670 until his death in 1713 – the Florentine court faced the inevitable decline of the Medici dynasty. Cosimo’s zeal to stimulate industrial and technological innovations and to revitalize commerce resulted in an enormous expansion of correspondence and interchange between the Tuscan court and Europe in the 1660s. Once he came to power, Cosimo developed an interest in merchants who operated in the largest cities of Europe. Given the fact that the Grand Duke had a great fascination for the Dutch Republic, following his double stay there in 1667/1668 and 1669, the importance of Tuscan merchants in Amsterdam outweighed that of Medici traders in other European capitals. Among the scarce surviving correspondence of seventeenth-century Florentine merchants in the Low Countries, the most interesting may be that of Giovacchino Guasconi. During his tenure in Amsterdam as official agent for the Grand Duke, he wrote on average once a week to the Grand Ducal secretary, Apollonio Bassetti (1631-1699). This thesis explores the important role of Giovacchino Guasconi as intermediary between the cultural centres of Florence and Amsterdam in the seventeenth century, in particular his role as book agent between the well-known Dutch philologist Nicolaas Heinsius and Cosimo III.Show less
