By John Maguire
In this latest instalment of Buried Treasure, John Maguire of ArtsGroupie CIC uncovers the hidden riddles and remarkable treasures within Liverpool Central Library, with the coded granite walkway leading to one of the world’s most extraordinary books.
As you enter the path to Liverpool’s Central Library, on the ground, there is a list of great examples of storytelling—an impressive 79-foot-long walkway, detailing popular titles from books and films.
It reminds me a bit of Madonna’s shout-out to the fabulous age of Hollywood in the song Vogue. Here, we find a list of timeless classics, ranging from local authors, such as Educating Rita (Willy Russell) and The Cruel Sea (Nicholas Monsarrat), to National titles, including Charlotte’s Web (E. B. White) and Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier).
You notice, amidst this, “wordy welcome” that several red letters are standing out within the granite walkway as you trail into the library. A bit of a riddle! In fact, the red letters spell out a coded message.
It is fitting that we are faced with such a challenge when entering the reading space. Not many people know that a man by the name of Arthur Wynne was a Liverpool-born inventor who came up with something still popular now. The first ever crossword puzzle was published in the New York World newspaper on December 21, 1913.
At first, it was known as a “Word-Cross Puzzle,” and not the shape we know today, for this initial one was diamond-shaped, featured a hollow centre, and had the word “Fun” already filled in. This puzzle, created for the “Fun” section, became a widespread phenomenon, though the term “crossword” only emerged later due to a typesetting error.
The puzzle was an immediate success, becoming so popular that other newspapers quickly began to publish their own versions. The popularity of Wynne’s creation led to the publication of the first crossword puzzle book by Simon & Schuster in 1924.
So, what do the red letters in this Word puzzle on William Brown Street mean – if you collect them as you make your way into the library, they read Cyclops In The Wood.
You can find the said Cyclops In The Wood, that is the OAK room (wood), next to the Hornby Library, just off the Picton reading room. Inside, you will have to search for the mythical beast, which is in fact a book titled The Genus Crocus by George Maw (1886), situated amongst the bookshelves.
Keeping a watchful eye on a piece of absolute treasure, the magnificent Birds of America by John James Audubon (1827- 38). 435 life-sized prints celebrated for artistic and ornithological accuracy. The depictions of birds are majestic. It is displayed open, and the dimensions when open are 3 feet 4 inches high by 4 feet 6 inches wide by about 5 inches deep. It looks like it has been taken from a giant’s bookcase. Each page of the book is illustrated with a hand coloured image of a type of bird. They catalogue and display American birds, some of which are extinct. His work in this book indicates he was an incredible artist who created one of the most scientific explorations of birds. In 2018, a copy of The Birds of America was officially sold for $9.65 million (£7, 161 197.44).
It has to be noted that Audubon is a controversial figure with accusations of plagiarism and criticism of his involvement in the slave trade. In 1905, a non-profit environmental organisation was founded in his name, dedicated to bird conservation and habitat preservation. The organisation is the largest and oldest ecological organisation in the world, advancing the education and advocacy of policies to protect birds and their environment. It has not shied away from the murkier elements of their namesake and addresses his white supremacist views and ethical failings on their website with an insightful essay – The Myth of John James Audubon.
The people of Liverpool own this book in Liverpool Central Library, the taxpayers of our City, a public treasure on display every day. There is a magical energy in the air when you enter the room surrounded by the bookcases and with the cyclops guarding close by. When I visit this space, I always think about writer Roald Dahl and his words: “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”.
Once a week, the book has its page turned so you can see a new bird in its glass nest (The book is encased in a bulletproof glass case). I like to view this tomb as much as I can, to try and spot a different bird; one day, I hope to have seen them all. So far, my favourite has to be The Flamingo. I have seen this a few times, and the last time, as I stared closely with my face pressed up against the glass, I am sure the creature pecked its beak on the side as if to say hello.