We have to save them for the nation.’Because, of course, these are not just any old books and letters. They are the highlights, or ‘greatest hits’, of the Honresfield Library — a famous private literary collection amassed by northern industrialists William and Alfred Law in the 19th century and obsessively shielded from public and academic inspection. Among the collection is the complete original manuscript of Sir Walter Scott’s 1817 novel Rob Roy, with a sale estimate of £1 million. So the Burns collection would go up to Alloway, The Bronte treasures would go to Yorkshire and so on. If you would like to help save the Honresfield Library for the nation, go to fnl.org.uk and click on the ‘Honresfield Appeal’ button.

Source: Daily Mail July 18, 2021 21:00 UTC