The Book of the British Library

In addition to holding some of the world&;s most prized cultural treasures, the British Library is also the repository of the nation&;s collective memory. Owing its origin to the generosity and far-sightedness of a handful of eighteenth-century scholars and book lovers, the Library&;s very extensive collections&;of books, manuscripts, maps, music, newspapers, photographs, sound recordings, stamps, and digital media&;offer keys to the understanding of human achievement in literature, art, music, politics, journalism, exploration, and much else, from ancient times to the present day.

 

This beautifully produced and generously illustrated book tells the story of the Library through its founders, its engaging history, and its renowned collection. Michael Leapman highlights the most significant and beautiful items in the care of the British Library, while also exploring some of the lesser-known, more surprising artifacts housed in its iconic building in the heart of London.

 

Michael Leapman was for many years a correspondent for the London Times. He has written or edited eighteen books on an eclectic range of subjects, including biographies of Inigo Jones and Rupert Murdoch, travel guides to London and New York, and an acclaimed account of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Michael Leapman has written or edited 18 books on an eclectic range of subjects, including The World for a Shilling: How the Great Exhibition of 1851 Shaped a Nation, Inigo: The Troubled Life of Inigo Jones, Architect of the English Renaissance, and DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Great Britain.