A MADMAN’S MASTERPIECE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 9 September 1937, Page 9

A MADMAN’S MASTERPIECE

This veal' .secs the bicentenary of the publication of one of the world’s remarkable books—“ Linden's Concordance of the Bible.” It is remarkable not only for its amazing range but also because it was the masterpiece of a man who for periods at least was mad. Alexander Crudcn, Aberdeen born, London bookseller, and afterwards a printer’s proof-read-er, was on four occasions certified and confined as insane (relates Lucio in the '■Manchester Guardian”). Yet lie is said to have compiled bis great work in little more than a year. Few words in the Bible escaped bis net. lie called himsell ‘Apothecary to the [’arsons,” no empty boast, and in recent years he lias been a source of much help to solvers of crossword problems. Although his concordance was immediately successful and three editions were published in bis lifetime, he is said never to have made more than L4Q a year out of it. In later years Crudcn was not content with being a correc Lor of the press, but described himself as "Alexander the Corrector—of Morals,” and warned fiercely against what he considered to be the irrcligion of his day.