When Elena Rowe (Newnham 2022) arrived at Cambridge to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic (ASNC), she never imagined how closely her path would intertwine with that of a distinguished scholar who had walked the same corridors decades before her. 

Today, undertaking her Master’s degree and the first recipient of the Dr Brian Dodsworth Fund, Elena’s journey is a living testament to the extraordinary legacy gift left by Dr Dodsworth, a librarian, linguist, and lifelong champion of Icelandic Studies.

When a passion becomes a legacy

Brian Dodsworth came to Christ’s College in 1954 to read Modern Languages, and his fascination with Icelandic culture and literature shaped his life’s work. As the Scandinavian and Nordic specialist at the University Library (UL) from 1965 to 1998, Brian helped transform Cambridge into one of the leading centres for Icelandic and Nordic scholarship outside the Nordic countries.

Over decades, he built not only the University’s collections but also his own extraordinary personal library, which was especially rich in Icelandic sagas. His commitment to learning was so profound that, in his Will, he left his entire estate to support future students of Icelandic Studies at Cambridge.

John and Valerie Hall, Brian’s friends, former colleagues and executors, have been delighted to see the impact of Brian’s kindness:  

“We are delighted to hear that Elena will be the first student to benefit from Brian’s legacy to the University and that she shares so fully his keen interest in the Icelandic sagas. She will, we are confident, be the first of many who will follow Brian in their enthusiasm for this subject, will benefit from his generosity, and will make Cambridge a major centre for the study of the sagas.” 

Professor Rosalind Love, Head of Department, Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, reflected:  

“Brian’s legacy will make a meaningful difference to our work. His gift will strengthen resources for students, support the development of our library collections, and help ensure that teaching and research in Icelandic language and literature continue to thrive at Cambridge. It is a practical yet visionary contribution that will benefit our community for many years, with potential to be life-changing for individuals like Elena.”

An ancient and enigmatic land

Family feuds, ghosts, battles, magic: the Icelandic sagas sit at the crossroads of history, literature, and culture and have captivated Elena since her early undergraduate days at Newnham. “They teach us about medieval Iceland, but also much about the Viking world in which many stories are set.”

Elena’s current research extends beyond Iceland to the Sami people, drawing her to the Scott Polar Research Institute library—where she now sits among scientists rather than arts and humanities students. This interdisciplinary movement reflects exactly what makes ASNC special: the blending of literature, history, anthropology, and linguistics to tell the stories of early medieval cultures.

Her studies often take her through Cambridge’s network of libraries, where she moves seamlessly between the English Faculty library, Newnham’s collections, and of course, the UL, Brian’s old professional home. Her subject’s niche nature means much of her research still relies on physical books. On quiet afternoons in the UL, Elena often feels a deep sense of connection across the ages with those long-gone scholars who once held the same books. It’s this kind of resonance through scholarship that makes a legacy gift so meaningful to both donor and recipients.

And, like Brian, Elena also worked in a Cambridge library, spending exam season shelving books at Newnham College. She loved seeing what other students were reading and how the same texts would reappear again and again in the hands of new learners. The books contain meaning far beyond just the intellectual ideas therein; they’re a physical link to a great academic tradition and a representation of how, at Cambridge, that tradition evolves and continues. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, as a professional librarian, Brian specifically instructed that part of his legacy gift be used to purchase books. Recently, in fact, Elena was able to request that the UL purchase a special English translation of an Icelandic saga.  In this way, the legacy is not only supporting Elena’s academic development; it is enriching the very experience of study itself for any scholar interested in Icelandic Studies.

Elena also remembers the excitement when boxes of old books donated to the ASNC department would appear in the common room. Students would gather around, discovering treasures inside. Parts of Brian’s personal collection came to the department in this same way, again connecting past scholars with present in this compelling discipline.

An untethered exploration

The Dodsworth Fund provides full financial support, giving Elena the freedom to fully immerse herself in her studies. “Having the scholarship has been transformative,” she shares. “It frees up your headspace not just for academic work but for everything that makes up the student experience. It relieved so much pressure, especially during holidays when I could finally rest.” The master’s course is short and intense, and Elena relished the opportunity to immerse herself fully in her studies. This kind of focus, without distractions or financial worries, unquestionably produces the best and most insightful scholarship.

After completing her MPhil, Elena is considering continuing into a PhD. But first she plans to explore Europe and perhaps return to Iceland, maybe even to participate in historical reenactments, one of her favourite pastimes.

Sharing a personal gift

Having learnt more about Brian and his lifelong commitment to learning, Elena feels a personal connection. “Knowing that this award was made possible through a gift in Brian’s Will is really special,” she reflects. “It feels more personal than funding from a foundation or research institute. With our shared interest in learning, libraries and the sagas, I’m proud to be researching something I hope he would have found fascinating.” Through Brian’s extraordinary generosity, Elena is following in his footsteps, carrying their shared passion into the future, and inspiring new stories and new generations in the long tradition of Icelandic scholarship at Cambridge.