What sets Mary Shelley's Frankenstein apart from so many other famous works of fiction? What special combination of creativity and vision made possible the drafting of Magna Carta? When describing exceptional accomplishments like these - and the men and women behind them - we use the word 'genius'. And while genius is difficult to define, we all recognize that elusive, special quality when we encounter it. 'Marks of Genius' pays tribute to some of the most remarkable testaments to genius throughout human history, from ancient texts on papyrus and the extraordinary medieval manuscript 'The Douce Apocalypse' to the renowned children's work 'The Wind in the Willows'. Bringing together some of the most impressive treasures from the collections of the Bodleian Libraries, it tells the story of the creation of each work and its afterlife, offering insight into the breadth and depth of its influence as well as its power to fascinate. Illustrating works from Euclid, Dante and Handel to Einstein, Austen and Gandhi, 'Marks of Genius' showcases over 100 books and manuscripts that constitute the pinnacle of human creativity and which we continue to revere and revisit.

The Radcliffe Camera is one of the most celebrated buildings in Oxford. Instantly recognizable, its great dome rises amid the Gothic spires of the University. Through early maps, plans and drawings, portraits, engravings and photographs this book tells the fascinating story of its creation, which took more than thirty years, and describes its subsequent place within Oxford University. Dr John Radcliffe was the most successful physician of his day. On his death in 1713 he directed that part of his large fortune should be used to build a library on a site at the heart of Oxford, between the University Church of St Mary's and the Bodleian. Early designs were made by the brilliant architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, who outlined the shape so familiar today: a great rotunda surmounted by Oxford's only dome. It would take decades to acquire and clear the site, and after Hawksmoor's death in 1736 the project was taken over by the Scottish architect James Gibbs, who refined the designs and supervised the construction of 'Dr Radcliffe's Library', creating, in the process, an architectural masterpiece and Britain's first circular library.