The Enemies of Books by William Blades
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"The Enemies of Books" by William Blades is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book addresses the various threats that books face over time, including physical destruction by fire, water, neglect, and even human ignorance and bigotry. The author meticulously documents notable instances of library destruction and the carelessness that has harmed invaluable texts throughout history. The beginning of "The Enemies of Books" outlines the devastating impact of
fire on libraries and manuscripts, citing examples from various historical periods, such as the burning of the Alexandria library and incidents during the Great Fire of London. Blades argues that such losses to humanity's literary treasures are incalculable. He illustrates how these calamities have not only affected written works but also shaped our understanding of cultural heritage. As he details notable events of destruction by fire, the text sets the foundation for a larger discussion on the preservation and vulnerability of books, highlighting the importance of safeguarding literary artifacts for posterity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Blades, William, 1824-1890 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Enemies of Books |
| Contents | Fire -- Water -- Gas and heat -- Dust and neglect -- Ignorance -- The bookworm -- Other vermin -- Bookbinders -- Collectors -- Conclusion: Reverence for old books |
| Credits | Produced by Charles Keller, and David Widger |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 69.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | Z: Bibliography, Library science |
| Subject | Books -- Conservation and restoration |
| Subject | Book-worms |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 1302 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-01302-2 |
| Release Date | May 1, 1998 |
| Last Update | Jan 31, 2013 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 736 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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