![]() "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. ![]() ![]() ![]() Nicholas Basbanes not only introduces readers to book collectors throughout history, but also to the books themselves, and to the methods employed to obtain rare books." Written before the emergence of the Internet but newly updated for the 21st Century reader, A Gentle Madness captures that last moment in time when collectors pursued their passions in dusty bookshops and street stalls, high stakes auctions, and the subterfuge worthy of a true bibliomaniac. For a few, it is a dangerous obsession that forces them to sacrifice the basic amenities of life, or even break the law. This book demonstrates, in a colorful manner, how book collectors are driven to seek out new acquisitions for their libraries. Many of the most noted collectors have ultimately given their world-class libraries to colleges and universities, where the fruits of their labor have benefited generations of scholars and researchers. Determination, time, and money have enabled them to seek out and preserve rare books, manuscripts, documents, and letters of profound cultural and historical importance. Summary: An entertaining journey through the history and contemporary world of book collecting, and the bibliomanes whose passion for books formed amazing collections. Our society owes a lot to book collectors. ![]() From an Amazon reader review: "Spanning the long period from ancient times, when books were hand-copied, to the modern day, "A Gentle Madness" takes us on a strange and exciting journey through the world of rare book collectors. ![]()
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