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Cambridge University Library

Curious Cures

29 March – 6 December 2025Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World

Fascinated by health and wellbeing? So were our medieval ancestors. Discover a time when unusual ingredients and questionable remedies mixed with genuine curiosity about how bodies function, creating a complex and intriguing world of ritual healing, herbal recipes, stargazing and surgery. Come and see what the doctor ordered...

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Past Exhibitions and Displays

murder by the book

Endless Stories: Manuscripts, knowledge and translation in the 17th century

In 1632, Cambridge University Library was transformed by an extraordinary collection of manuscripts in a dazzling array of languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Malay.

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murderbythebook

Murder by the Book: A Celebration of 20th Century British Crime Fiction

Celebrating the richness of twentieth century British crime fiction through a creative lens, from its origins to contemporary best sellers.

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footlights

The Footlights Illuminated

Who are ‘The Cambridge Footlights’, anyway? A new exhibition explores the history and identity of the world-renowned student comedy group.

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Spitting image

Spitting Image: A Controversial History

Savage, grotesque, hilarious: explore Spitting Image, the puppet show that became an icon of 20th century television.

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Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective

Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective

Touring from the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, this exhibition highlights a selection of the illustrator Raymond Briggs’ most significant works.

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darwin

Darwin in Conversation

Discover how Darwin’s global network of correspondents shaped his ideas around the evolution of life on planet Earth

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Samurai: History and Legend

Samurai: History and Legend

Samurai are a well-known image of Japan, but they are as much legend as history.

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Ghost Words: Reading the past

Ghost Words: Reading the Past

Medieval scribes used to recycle old books by scraping the parchment clean and writing a fresh text over the top.

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Samurai: History and Legend

Previous Exhibitions

Browse our past exhibitions: from the Great Collections to Lines of thought.

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Upcoming Events

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19 Mar
A person walks along the library corridor past two library users who are sitting at desks

IN PERSON EVENT | 19 Mar 5:15PM TO 5:55PM

Taster Tour

A 40 minute tour for those thinking of joining the University Library or who have recently joined

27 Mar
Curious Cures Logo

IN PERSON EVENT | 27 Mar 7.30PM TO 9PM

Curious Cures: Public Exhibition Opening

Be one of the first to see our new exhibition. Hosted as part of the Cambridge Festival.

3 Apr
The Really Popular Book Club logo

BOOK CLUB | 3 Apr 7PM TO 8PM

The Really Popular Book Club: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

With special guest, Academic Director of Creative Writing at the Cambridge University Institute of Continuing Education, Yvonne Battle-Felton.