Modern Greek Studies Association

Oxford University

History and Description

Modern Greek studies as a separate discipline exists in Oxford since the early 20th century. Research involving Modern Greek language, literature and area studies is undertaken within the Sub-faculty of Byzantine and Modern Greek but also at other departments, such as Classics, Linguistics and History.

Most publications on Modern Greek language and literature are currently held in the Slavonic and Modern Greek library of the Taylor Institution (TABS) while books and periodicals on Modern Greek history have been traditionally housed in the Bodleian library.

Other publications on special aspects of Modern Greek studies (film studies, anthropology, and theology) are held in the relevant OULS libraries. Books on the history of the Ottoman Empire in general (including the Greek lands) are held in the Oriental Institute and the Bodleian library. Works on pre-1453 Greek language and literature are held in the Sackler library. Rhodes House Library houses large collection of books on post-1878 history of Cyprus, when it became part of the Items Commonwealth.

Most British and Irish publications on Modern Greek language, literature and area studies are deposited at the Bodleian library and held in the stacks or repositories. The items that are expected to be in heavy use such as English translations of main works of Greek literature are duplicated in TABS in order to provide at least one loan copy.

Strengths

The collection covers literature in Modern Greek language (from 15th to 21st century), including primary works and literary criticism, as well as studies on the history and structure of Medieval and Modern Greek and its regional varieties (including Cypriot Greek) and the related reference literature. The Modern Greek collection in TABS also includes publications on the development of Greek national identity and ideology, main reference history works and main Greek newspapers.

The Bodleian collection includes descriptions of Modern Greece published by European travelers in 16th-19th centuries, early printed books and manuscripts of early literary works in Modern Greek language. The systematic purchase of Greek history books maintains the continuity of the Greek history collection of the Bodleian library and ensures the comprehensive representation of European history.

Most of the Modern Greek Studies collection is in the form of monographs or printed journals. The Dawkins collection (see section 4) includes manuscripts and a large number of offprints. The retention policy for Greek newspapers in Taylorian Slavonic and Greek library is 3 months. The Taylorian Slavonic and Greek library also holds some multimedia materials related to teaching of Modern Greek language and literature that may later develop into a separate collection.

The collection includes works on Modern Greek studies published in main European languages (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish) and Modern Greek. Works in Modern Greek constitute the main bulk of the collection. Publications in other languages (Slavic, non-European) are also acquired depending on their importance.

Scholarly works are acquired in their original language of publication when possible or in English or Greek translation if the original publication becomes obsolete. English or Greek translations are also purchased for important works published in less known languages For literary works both original text (in Greek) and English translation is purchased, if available. Translations of Greek literary works into other languages apart from English are purchased only if they are accompanied by important critical commentary.