A National Library
Gallery Exhibition Supported by Rhodes House, Oxford
1934
Norman Davis | 1913 - 1989
The only child of James and Jean Davis, Norman Davis was born and educated in Dunedin. By all accounts he had a happy childhood, frequently spending family holidays in Karitane and Maniototo. His wit, sense of humour (said to be inherited from his parents) and his wonderful ability as a mimic were a delight to those who knew him. Dan Davin, (fellow student at Otago University and a Rhodes scholar in 1936) met Davis again at Oxford and found that he ‘had become an enthusiastic rowing man, he had an unexpected and unrivalled command of the bawdy verses familiar to sporting and sparkish undergraduates, and he had acquired an extensive and profound knowledge of the subtly varying qualities of vintage clarets and burgundies.’ Davis was also known for his thorough enjoyment of a good dinner, and his impressive ability to recall it in great detail years later. Davis’s academic career saw him work as a lecturer and professor of English language in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Scotland and England. World War II temporarily interrupted his academic career. During this time Davis became a covert operative, earning an M.B.E in 1945 for his wartime activities. As well as lecturing, Davis was involved in research, both his own and assisting others. He became a respected and leading authority on medieval English. Perhaps best known for his significant research on the Paston family papers, he also revised the 2nd edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1967), edited by J.R.R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon. An expert linguist, Davis reportedly spoke 16 languages. He married Magdelena (Lena) Bone in 1944. Their childless marriage has been described as ‘long and happy’ and until Lena’s death in 1983 they were ‘devoted and inseparable companions’. Davis died in 1989 at Oxford. Norman Davis was dux of Otago Boys’ High School, after attending the School from 1926-1929. He went on to attend the University of Otago where he gained an M.A. Being awarded a Rhodes scholarship in 1934 enabled Davis to continue his studies at Merton College, Oxford. Dux medal from Otago Boys’ High School.
At the outbreak of World War II, Norman Davis was working as a lecturer at Sofia University, Bulgaria. Considered ‘one of the foremost British authorities on Bulgaria’, he was appointed as an assistant press attaché in the British Legation. His work as a covert operative saw him condemned to death, in absentia, in 1941 for conspiracy by the Bulgarian courts. Upon publication of this news in Dunedin, concerned local citizens sent food parcels. It is reported that a number of these were posted to ‘Mr. Norman Davis, Absentia, Europe.’ Despite the death sentence, Davis continued his work successfully under an assumed name in Turkey. He grew a ‘mustache big enough to be seen from behind’ and developed a slouch as part of his successful cover. Instrumental in evacuating Dr Gregori Dimitrov, the leader of the Bulgarian resistance, from Bulgaria, Davis was awarded an M.B.E in 1945 for his contribution to the war effort. The necessity to preserve his safety and anonymity saw him denied the opportunity to receive his M.B.E in person, although he was sent a sample of the medal ribbon as a token until such time as it was safe for him to receive the medal itself. The death sentence was eventually revoked and Davis was granted amnesty by Bulgaria’s new communist government.
The ‘Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’ (M.B.E) medal was awarded to Norman Davis in 1945 for his contribution to the war effort. Norman Davis Collection, MS 813/05, Hocken Library. A letter from King George VI expressing his regret at not being able to present the M.B.E to Norman Davis in person. Norman Davis Collection, MS 813/01, Hocken Library.
J.R.R.Tolkien was the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford University during Norman Davis’s student years. Professor Tolkien considered Davis to be ‘a first class scholar [and] the best student of recent years’. After Tolkien’s retirement in 1959, Davis succeeded him as the Merton Professor at Oxford.
The Paston family papers consist of the letters of three generations of the 15th century Paston family. Well known for his research on them, Davis applied modern punctuation and use of capital letters to the papers, while presenting their text completely. This was done in an effort to make them easier to read. Paston Letters and Papers of the Fifteenth Century. Part I. Edited by Norman Davis. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971. Cen. DA 240 P914 1971. Norman Davis was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature by the University of Otago in 1984. When conferring the degree, Dr R. O. H. Irvine, the then Vice-Chancellor, declared Professor Davis to be ‘one of the world’s leading authorities in early and medieval English’, a view widely recognized by scholars throughout the world.
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Special Collections |
1st Floor, Central Library, University of Otago |
20 September - 10 December 2004 |