The January 1918 issue
which stopped a bullet.
which stopped a bullet.
In wartime, 'Blackwood's Magazine' was often read by soldiers in their free time, and in two cases it saved lives.
In 1841, a copy took the brunt of a sword blow in the Afghan War, turning a fatal strike into a superficial one.
In 1918, an officer carried this copy in the breast pocket of his jacket. It absorbed the impact of a bullet, and saved the officer's life.
During the First World War, 'Blackwood's' published stories that reflected the global conflict and offered entertainment for the troops. John Buchan's 'The thirty-nine steps' was serialised starting in July 1915.
The magazine with a bullet hole is on display in '"Blackwood's" at 200', at the Library from 30 March to 2 July 2017.