Robin Dix Collection

The Robin Dix Papers

The Robin Dix Akenside collection comprises 60 printed items by and about the Newcastle poet and physician Mark Akenside (1721-1770). It includes almost all of the editions of Akenside’s most famous poem The pleasures of imagination that were published in his lifetime. Virtually all his other verse is represented in early editions and there are a number of significant editions of his poetical works. The collection contains some of Akenside's contributions to medical journals and his dissertation from Leyden University. There are also a few editions of poetry by friends and contemporaries.

Robin Dix was born in 1956. He was educated at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, Glos 1966-1974 and then studied for his undergraduate and doctoral degrees at New College, Oxford 1975-1983. He worked at the University of London before joining the Department of English Studies at Durham in 1991. He was an authority on Mark Akenside and produced editions of his poetical works and manuscripts as well as writing The literary career of Mark Akenside in 2006. Robin Dix died in 2007.

The books have been added to the SC special collections printed sequence.

Open for consultation.

Books: presented from the estate of Robin Dix, August 2008 (accession Misc.2008/9:11).

Papers: transferred from the English Studies department of Durham University, April 2018 (accession Misc.2017/18:78).

Papers: online catalogue

The collection is in the main catalogue of printed books use this link

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.