My early interest in Greek philology led me to the world of humanists, of books, printing and libraries in the early modern period. This lecture traces the academic journey I have taken over the last 30 years, and the interest I have developed in the web of relationships and collaborations between players in the book world, including authors, editors, publishers, printers, translators, collaborators and patrons. Each book results from the complex interaction of multiple actors, and each is in its way a small miracle of collaboration.

Raphaële Mouren joined the BSR in May 2022 to become Head of Research Collections. She was previously Librarian of the Warburg Institute and Reader in History of the Book and Libraries, University of London.

Raphaele’s early research was on the transmission of classical texts in the Renaissance, with a focus on the history of philology and of the learned book in 16th century Italy. Whilst working on the Florentine humanist Piero Vettori (1499-1585), Raphaele expanded her interests to the history of the book and libraries at that time, the transmission of Greek manuscripts from the Byzantine Empire, as well as the Republic of letters and the Cultural history of Florence and Rome.

She is the Principal investigator of the 4-year AHRC funded project Greek manuscripts in Renaissance Venice : the library of Guillaume Pellicier and its contribution to Europe’s intellectual heritage.