The forbidden marriage...

Heart shaped text copyright Naomi Hillman 2018

This heart-shape was born in the Bodleian Library reading rooms. I was researching Thomas James, Bodley’s first Librarian in 1598 - and I found a love-story. Thomas adored an Oxford girl, Ann Underhill, but their marriage was initially forbidden. My text details Ann’s life.

Thomas James owned a book made by Aldus Manutius, an extraordinary printer in the late 1400s, who loved to make shapes from text. This limited edition has been hand-printed in homage to the past at the Bodleian letterpress.