Rediscovering Greek and Roman literature

16th century annotations and ink initial

Erasmus briefly visited Queens’ College in 1506, and worked there between 1511 and 1514. Whilst at Queens’ he taught and befriended Humphrey Walkden, a Fellow of Queens' (1506-23) and lecturer in mathematics. Following his final departure from England Erasmus continued to ask after Walkden in letters to other Cambridge friends. Formerly owned by Walkden, this volume is both one of the oldest books in Queens’ Library, and the first ever printed edition of the Italian humanist Ognibene Bonisoli’s commentary on the works of the Roman poet Lucan. Of all the Roman poets, Lucan was of particular importance to Erasmus as one of his ‘authorities in poetry’.

Author: Ognibene Bonisoli
Title: In Lucanum commentum [Commentary on Lucan] (Venice: Philipo di Petri, 1475)
Shelfmark: G.2.20

G.2.20