'I have spent my morning reading Greek': the marginalia of Sir George Otto Trevelyan

Abstract

While the marginalia of the statesman and historian Lord Macaulay has attracted much scholarly attention, that of his nephew, the politician and historian George Otto Trevelyan, is scarcely known. Wallington Hall in Northumberland, now a National Trust property, houses Trevelyan's library and contains many examples of his marginal annotations. His reading ranged from the classics and historical works to contemporary, and sometimes surprisingly light, fiction. He often read aloud to his family, and the notes reveal that some books were reread many times, resulting in deep familiarity with the texts. This article examines the annotations which illuminate the reading practices of an eminent Victorian politician and writer.