Scientists working at the Cambridge University Library have discovered a lost story from the middle ages about King Arthur and Merlin. The story was hiding in plain sight – it had been used as a book cover. Now scientists have carefully “unfolded” the book cover digitally, revealing the hidden story.

In 2019, an old book that listed property records caught the eye of Dr. Irène Fabry-Tehranchi. The book dated from the 1500s, but looked even older. The cover was parchment (made from animal skin), and was folded around the book and stitched onto it. Old French handwriting covered the parchment.