James W. P. Campbell

This is a beautiful showing the history of the larege nd relly gorgeous librries of the world, but stressing Western Europe. It takes from early building ruins, through the age of fewer books and kept secret or locked up in some way, to the current openness. The large beautiful reading rooms with decorated ceilings surrounded by an oustanding supply of well bound reference books seems out of our ordinary appreciation. But these places still do exist, but usually in the large cities, well-established universities and religious citadels. These are the places of cavernous stacks and overstuffed balconies. This book is a welcome addition to any bibliophile's own library… (mere)