Hernando Colon's New World of Books: Toward a Cartography of Knowledge

The untold story of the greatest library of the Renaissance and its creator Hernando Colón

This engaging book offers the first comprehensive account of the extraordinary projects of Hernando Colón, son of Christopher Columbus, which culminated in the creation of the greatest library of the Renaissance, with ambitions to be universal––that is, to bring together copies of every book, on every subject and in every language. Pérez Fernández and Wilson‑Lee situate Hernando’s projects within the rapidly changing landscape of early modern knowledge, providing a concise history of the collection of information and the origins of public libraries, examining the challenges he faced and the solutions he devised. The two authors combine “meticulous research with deep and original thought,” shedding light on the history of libraries and the organization of knowledge. The result is an essential reference text for scholars of the early modern period, and for anyone interested in the expansion and dissemination of information and knowledge.

José María Pérez Fernández is professor of English at the University of Granada. Edward Wilson-Lee is fellow and lecturer in English at Sidney Sussex College, at the University of Cambridge.