Synopses & Reviews
A Wolfson History Prize Finalist
A New Statesman Book of the Year
A Sunday Times Book of the Year
Libraries have been attacked since ancient times but they have been especially threatened in the modern era, through war as well as willful neglect. Burning the Books describes the deliberate destruction of the knowledge safeguarded in libraries from Alexandria to Sarajevo, from smashed Assyrian tablets to the torching of the Library of Congress. The director of the world-famous Bodleian Libraries, Richard Ovenden, captures the political, religious, and cultural motivations behind these acts. He also shines a light on the librarians and archivists preserving history and memory, often risking their lives in the process.
More than simply repositories for knowledge, libraries support the rule of law and inspire and inform citizens. Ovenden reminds us of their social and political importance, challenging us to protect and support these essential institutions.
Review
“A magnificent book — timely, vital, and full of the most incredible tales. A manifesto for our humanity and its archives.” Philippe Sands, author of East West Street
Review
“The era of fake news and alternative facts reminds us that the burning of books is about much more than matches and accelerants; it is about power. Even as the digital world offers ways of sharing and preserving knowledge, it gives would-be biblioclasts fresh options for destruction, new instruments for erasure. Burning the Books arrives at a crucial juncture. With historical breadth, narrative focus, and the capacious sensibility of a keeper of books, Richard Ovenden catalogues the destruction of knowledge and memory — not only archiving the episodes, but offering schema for comprehending the losses and defending the stacks of the future.” Matthew Battles, author of Library: An Unquiet History
Review
“A wide-ranging and thought-provoking account of efforts to destroy, neglect, or conceal books, archives, private papers, government documents, and other records....An engrossing and informative portrait of how important it is to preserve and protect knowledge.” Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Richard Ovenden is Director of the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Balliol College. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2019, is a member of the American Philosophical Society, and serves as Treasurer of the Consortium of European Research Libraries and President of the Digital Preservation Coalition.