Banned Books: Hus and Luther in the Teddy Hall Library

This talk focusses on a first edition of the collected works of Jan Hus, from the collection in St Edmund Hall’s Old Library, written in the fifteenth century but first printed in 1558 together with letters of recommendation from Martin Luther. Henrike Lähnemann (Professor of Medieval German Literature and Linguistics) weaves together discussion of the book with the history of religious rebellion at the College, particularly alluding to Principal William Taylor who was condemned as a follower of Wycliffe and burned at the stake in 1423. She explains how the Old Library itself was founded in the name of reform.