Written to accompany the Tercentenery exhibition at The British Library to commemorate the death of the composer Henry Purcell, this study provides some insight into his attitudes, interests and working practices. Little is known about Purcell’s personal life or character, but he is the first major English composer to have left a substantial body of autograph music manuscripts, together with copies made by his close colleagues, Many of his manuscripts are shown here, together with portraits and contemporary London scenes.