Library: An Unquiet History (Thorndike Press Large Print Popular and Narrative Nonfiction Series) - Hardcover
From the clay-tablet collections of ancient Mesopotamia to the storied Alexandria libraries in Egypt, from the burned scrolls of China's Qing Dynasty to the book pyres of the Hitler Youth, from the great medieval library in Baghdad to the priceless volumes destroyed in the multi-cultural Bosnian National Library in Sarajevo, the library has been a battleground of competing notions of what books mean to us. Battles explores how, throughout its many changes, the library has served two contradictory impulses: on the one hand, the urge to exalt canons of literature, to secure and worship the best and most beautiful words; on the other, the desire to contain and control all forms of human knowledge.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"Fascinating... Eloquently written and genuinely enlightening, Battles's book is a telling testimony to the way libraries can transform lives" (Sunday Herald)
"Performs a valuable service by blowing the dust off our stodgy, conventional conception of the library to reveal the living heart of cultures that beats beneath its stone facade" (Los Angeles Times)
"An erudite, companionable, joyful book... Thrilling" (Spectator)
"Matthew Battles touches on almost all the important subjects, through fascinating stories... The book is full of all sorts of treasures" (Times Literary Supplement)
Book Description:
"Performs a valuable service by blowing the dust off our stodgy, conventional conception of the library to reveal the living heart of cultures that beats beneath its stone facade" (Los Angeles Times)
"An erudite, companionable, joyful book... Thrilling" (Spectator)
"Matthew Battles touches on almost all the important subjects, through fascinating stories... The book is full of all sorts of treasures" (Times Literary Supplement)
A history of the library that speaks volumes.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherThorndike Pr
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 0786268506
- ISBN 13 9780786268504
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages360
- Rating
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Library : An Unquiet History
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(2004)
ISBN 10: 0786268506
ISBN 13: 9780786268504
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Library : An Unquiet History
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Library: An Unquiet History
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Book Description Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 4-0786268506-G
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Library: An Unquiet History
Published by
Thorndike Press
(2004)
ISBN 10: 0786268506
ISBN 13: 9780786268504
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Hardcover
Quantity: 1
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Book Description Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 2-0786268506-G
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