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Arthur der Weduwen
Andrew Pettegree
LONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWNA SUNDAY TIMES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR'Timely ... a long and engrossing survey of the library' FT'A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched' Richard Ovenden, author of Burning the BooksFamed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over centuries, destroyed in a single day, ornamented with gold leaf and frescoes or filled with bean bags and children's drawings - the history of the library is rich, varied and stuffed full of incident.In this, the first major history of its kind, Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen explore the contested and dramatic history of the library, from the famous collections of the ancient world to the embattled public resources we cherish today. Along the way, they introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world's great collections, trace the rise and fall of fashions and tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanours committed in pursuit of rare and valuable manuscripts.
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Author
Arthur der Weduwen
Pages
518
Publisher
Profile Books
Published Date
2021-10-14
ISBN
1788163443 9781788163446
Community ReviewsSee all
"An in-depth history of where libraries began to where they are now is explored in this book. Told in chronological order, I learned much about the book, the process of buying and selling books, how opinions on collecting books shape history, and how the modern public library is in fact very modern.<br/><br/>This book has given me a new sense of awe when it comes to the written word. Books have survived many conflicts and natural disasters in which causes humanity to revive the love of books. Every challenge that has faced libraries has never won. There is something truly special about books and their knowledge. <br/><br/>As I was reading, one thought kept occurring to me over and over again: statistically there is no reason that we as humanity should have libraries today. Between the countless wars, raids, disasters, and general unpopularity, the modern library has defied odds. How lucky I was not only to be reading this book, but I actually obtain it from my own library and spent time inside the library reading it. I would often pause my reading and take a look around the feeling of gratitude and pride in a single place was palpable. This book really opened my eyes to the unexpected in the mundane. <br/><br/>I would recommend this book to anyone who has read Erik Larson nonfiction and enjoyed it. It was a little denser than Larson, but the information was fascinating and told in a very organized way. <br/><br/>I give this book a 4/5 star rating."
Olivia Denning