1700 to now: chapters already written

Elizabeth Shiers (1634-1700)

Elizabeth Shiers left a bequest to Exeter College to provide funding for the Library and to endow two scholarships. Today, her fund enables the Librarian with the means to purchase many additional texts for students. One of the first female benefactors to the College, her portrait can be found in the Library. JRR Tolkien (1911, Classics and English)

Tolkien came up in 1911 and it was the Exeter College Library that witnessed, and nurtured, his transformation from undergraduate to creator of Middle-earth. If he came back today, he would probably say that the Library hasn’t changed! Alan Bennett (1954, Modern History)

Actor, author, playwright and screenwriter, Alan Bennett came up to study History in 1954. During his time at Exeter he also performed with the Oxford Revue. Following some years teaching and researching after graduation, he went on to focus on his literary and artistic pursuits.