OXFORD COLLEGE ARMS

A debut history book focuses on the various coats of arms associated with Oxford University.

Oxford boasts a history as culturally rich as it is long; the first recorded teaching there dates back to the 11th century. Even though the English university received its official royal charter from King Henry III in 1248, its original coat of arms wasn’t created until 1400. Now, there are 38 different colleges recognized under the banner of Oxford—13 of them only since World War II. Even the most recent additions have their heraldic symbols, not just for the sake of traditional continuity, but also for the identification of their athletic teams. Marlin meticulously covers each college, discussing its unique history, the meaning of its coat of arms, and its specific educational mission. Each coat of arms is loaded with nearly esoteric symbolic meanings, and the author expertly interprets—to borrow an apt coinage from Richard Lofthouse’s preface—the “peculiar language of heraldry.” Adding to the demystification of ancient forms is a useful glossary of heraldic terms. All of the coats of arms here are handsomely illustrated by debut heraldic artist Lumbley; there is a smattering of uncredited color photographs as well. The author’s descriptions are composed in unfailingly clear language, and the entire work is as rationally organized as it is informative. This idiosyncratic slice of history actually opens an intriguing portal into the whole of British history since the heraldic symbols signify what should be praised as well as what should be condemned. Of course, such an uncommon vantage point is unlikely to command a broad readership; the entire book truly is devoted to the coats of arms and the colleges to which they belong. But for those in search of a confident guide to these meaningful hieroglyphics, it would be difficult to find one superior to Marlin’s effort.

An astute exploration of Oxford’s coats of arms.