Alastair Compston

The Royal College of Physicians celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2018, and to observe this landmark it published this series of ten books. Each of the books focuses on fifty elements that have contributed to making the RCP what it is today, together adding up to 500 reflections on 500 years.

Set in the context of manuscript and book production, this, the ninth volume in the series, describes the Dorchester Library and how its rich and diverse collection illustrates the history of medicine and ideas.

Other books in the series

A garden of medicinal plants  - Henry Oakeley, Jane Knowles, Michael de Swiet and Anthony Dayan

Anatomy of a building - Rowan Moore

Quacks, rogues and charlatans - Paul Strathern

Physicians and war - Humphrey Hodgson and Simon Shorvan

Curiosities from the College museum - Richard Thompson

Grave and learned men: the physicians 1518-1660 - Louella Vaughan

Ever persons capable and able: the physicians 1660-2018 - Louella Vaughan

Physicians and their images - Ludmilla Jordanova

Physicians and global health - Krishna Chinthapalli