Like a Pelican in the Wilderness

Well, this one has to be given credit for it's absolutely bizarre title. I can't tell you  how many times this particular simile has come up in conversation.

Oh, the "pelican in the wilderness" metaphor? That old chestnut?

And bravo to the publishers/author who clearly thought that this particular title would explain everything the reader would need to know about the book's content. No helpful colon here.

No, no. You either know about this pelican. Or you don't.

NB: Apparently, it's a reference to the writings of the desert fathers. Oh, the patristic period. Way into birds. Who knew?

Frontispiece

Welcome. As an introduction, there are things you should know: I spend my life in a library. I enjoy it.
Well, most days at least.
And what actually makes the experience better is discovering the absolute randomness that fills the open shelves of a rather large library.
You know what I mean. The stuff you come across every once in a while that you can't believe was
a) published in the first place
or
b) was bought by a library on the presumption that someone would read it.

Now, I'm not one to complain about off-kilter and obscure material. Indeed, I am a bastion of the obscure academic ivory tower.
However.
however
That is not to say this library isn't chock-a-block full of stuff that you would ever want to read. Pick up maybe. Gawk at. But not read.

So this represents a collection of exactly these kinds of books. I've scanned the shelves so you don't have to. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the random findings of the open shelves at the Bodleian library.