The Library: A Fragile History

A history of libraries and the people who built them, from the ancient world to the digital age.

“Engaging [and] ambitious” ―The Washington Post

Famed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over centuries, destroyed in a single day, ornamented with gold leaf and frescoes, or filled with bean bags and children’s drawings―the history of the library is rich, varied, and stuffed full of incident.

In The Library, historians Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world’s great collections, trace the rise and fall of literary tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanors committed in pursuit of rare manuscripts. In doing so, they reveal that while collections themselves are fragile, often falling into ruin within a few decades, the idea of the library has been remarkably resilient as each generation makes―and remakes―the institution anew.

Beautifully written and deeply researched, The Library is essential reading for booklovers, collectors, and anyone who has ever gotten blissfully lost in the stacks.

“The Library proves that truth is more intriguing than fiction … Full of charismatic individuals and astonishing facts.” -The Times (London)

Andrew Pettegree is professor of modern history at the University of St. Andrews and a leading expert on the history of book and media transformations. He lives in Scotland. 

Arthur der Weduwen is a British Academy postdoctoral fellow at the University of St. Andrews. He lives in Scotland.