Overview

The dramatic and contested history of the library, from the ancient world to the digital age Famed 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 The Library, historians Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world's great collections, trace the rise and fall of literary tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanors committed in pursuit of rare manuscripts. In doing so, they reveal that while collections themselves are fragile, often falling into ruin within a few decades, the idea of the library has been remarkably resilient as each generation makes--and remakes--the institution anew. Beautifully written and deeply researched, The Library is essential reading for booklovers, collectors, and anyone who has ever gotten blissfully lost in the stacks.

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9781668603758

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A cornucopia of bookish history. -- Judith Flanders, author of A Place for Everything A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched, of that extraordinary and enduring phenomenon: the library. -- Richard Ovenden, University of Oxford

"A cornucopia of bookish history. -- ""Judith Flanders, author of A Place for Everything"" A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched, of that extraordinary and enduring phenomenon: the library. -- ""Richard Ovenden, University of Oxford"""

Author Information

Andrew Pettegree is professor of modern history at the University of St Andrews. A leading expert on the history of book and media transformations, Pettegree is the award-winning author of several books on news and information culture. He lives in Scotland. Arthur der Weduwen is a British Academy postdoctoral fellow at the University of St. Andrews. This is his fifth book. He lives in Scotland. Arthur der Weduwen is a British Academy postdoctoral fellow at the University of St. Andrews. This is his fifth book. He lives in Scotland. Sean Barrett has won over twenty Earphones Awards and two prestigious Audie Awards for his audiobook narrations. He started acting professionally at the age of twelve and has since appeared on television and in film in Minder, Brush Strokes, War and Peace, Sons and Lovers, and Return to Oz. His stage credits include performing in the West End with Noël Coward in his Suite in Three Keys. He has worked extensively on BBC Radio and has also narrated several television series, including People's Century and Crash.

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