A NEW book published by the British Library reveals how a Lustleigh, Devon curate was given the dubious accolade in 1813 of being the creator of “one of the greatest calamities” in the annals of literature.

It is an accolade which, 200 years later, may still hold true today.

Reverend William Davy’s theological labours extended to 26 volumes with a 96-word-long title.

Work on this labour of love started in 1795 and continued for 12 years, during which time the Reverend made himself a printing press with worn-out and cast-off metal types, and physically printed the book himself, after finding no-one willing to fund its publication.

The report of his futile efforts was discovered during author Rona Levin’s research of the British Library’s unrivalled collection of newspapers for a new book, Comic, Curious & Quirky: News Stories from Centuries Past, which brings together some of the strangest human-interest stories written in newspapers, from 1729-1930.

The stories present bizarre, funny or sometimes simply bewildering tales of ordinary lives that were recorded in miniature through the newspaper pages, in a time before oral historians existed.

Reverend Davy performed every operation of the printing process himself. He struck off 40 copies of the first 300 pages and distributed 26 of these among universities, bishops and the Royal Society hoping, no doubt, to receive the encouragement which he thought himself entitled. Disappointed in this, he resolved to spare himself any further expense of paper other than continuing to finish the remaining 14 sets. At the end of 12 years of unremitting toil, he finished the whole 26 volumes.

The Cambridge Journal and Chronicle of 1 January, 1813, reported: “The Annals of Literature, fertile in curiosities and calamities, have preserved few anecdotes more remarkable than that of our own times, which we are about to record. This is a tale which excites respect for the amazing perseverance of the patient labourer, as well as compassion for its misdirection.

The Rev. William Davy, curate of Lustleigh in Devonshire, finished in the year 1807, a work of which the title will be a sufficient sample: "A System of Divinity, in a course of sermons on the First Institutions of religion; on the Being and Attributes of God; on some of the most important Articles of the Christian Religion in connection; and on the several Virtues and Vices of Mankind, with occasional discourses.

Being a compilation from the best sentiments of the polite writers and eminent sound divines, both ancient and modern, on the same subjects, properly connected, with improvements; particularly adapted for the use of chief families, and students in divinity, for churches and for the benefit of mankind in general."

Rona Levin said: “I was fascinated when I came across this story in the British Library newspaper archives. Any authors looking to self-publish a book today should spare a thought for what Reverend Davy had to go through two centuries ago to see his life’s work come to fruition in a print, even though his efforts were clearly futile.”

Comic, Curious & Quirky: News Stories From Centuries Past will be published by the British Library on September 25, priced £10, available online and in shops.

Author Rona Levin has over 30 years’ experience in journalism working on newspapers, teletext news services and Sky News.