Sir, – Róisín Ingle thinks of her Encyclopedia Britannica books as brainy soldiers standing sentry over the debris of family life (Life, November 23rd).
In my childhood, our brainy soldiers were the World Book encyclopaedia. All 22 volumes lined up alphabetically along a bookshelf, in their cream and brown covers, with the top of the pages painted in gold leaf, encouraging you to dive right in, in search of knowledge or wonder.
My mother too bought them in the 1970s, on the never-never from a friendly door-calling salesman. What was it about Irish mothers back in the day? They certainly knew a good educational investment when they saw one. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
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Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – On the subject of Encyclopaedia Brittanica, I inherited my grandfather’s 14th edition (1929) set. All 24 volumes were posted “surface mail” by my mother from South Africa to Co Clare in 1979, in packages of two volumes for, as I recall, the price of 50 South African cents per package.
It was a momentous day when our postman delivered all 12 packages, despite each one having been mailed several days apart with the intention of avoiding just such a situation.
The volumes continue to be a much appreciated source of reference. – Yours, etc,
MARILYN TALTY,
Tulla,
Co Clare.
