mystery marginalia: win $1000

Jessy Randall

The University of Chicago library is offering a $1000 prize to anyone who can identify and translate some highly unusual marginalia in an early printed edition of Homer's Odyssey. The best guess, so far, is that the notes are 19th century French shorthand. They appear in the chapter in which Odysseus visits the underworld. Paging Dan Brown! Dan Brown, you are wanted in the office ... so we can provide you with the inspiration for your next book.

Good luck figuring out the marginalia! Here are some close-ups.

Thanks, Lynne Thomas, for the tip!