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The Love of Books: The Philobiblon
Hardcover
Medieval & Renaissance HistoryLiterary CriticismFiction Anthologies
ISBN13: 9781025813684
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 176
Weight: 0.94
Height: 0.44 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Love of Books the Philobiblon is a seminal medieval treatise dedicated to the preservation, collection, and veneration of the written word. Written by Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, in the 14th century, this work stands as one of the earliest and most passionate defenses of book collecting and the establishment of libraries. Through a series of eloquent essays, the author explores the profound intellectual and spiritual value of books, arguing that they are the primary vessels of human wisdom and divine truth.
The text provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of medieval scholarship, detailing the practical challenges of maintaining a library and the ethical responsibilities of those who handle precious manuscripts. De Bury's prose is filled with a deep, personal affection for literature, viewing books not merely as objects, but as living teachers that transcend time and space. He offers advice on the proper care of books, critiques the negligence of those who disrespect them, and celebrates the joy of discovery found within their pages.
This enduring classic remains an essential read for bibliophiles, historians, and scholars of literature. The Love of Books the Philobiblon serves as a timeless testament to the power of literacy and the enduring legacy of the human mind, capturing the spirit of a true lover of learning.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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