Martin Bandyke Under Covers for August 2022: Martin interviews Arthur der Weduwen, co-author of The Library: A Fragile History.
b'Perfect for book lovers, this is a fascinating exploration of the history of libraries and the people who built them, from the ancient world to the digital age.\\n\\n \\n\\nFamed 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\\u2019s drawings\\u2014the history of the library is rich, varied, and stuffed full of incident. In The Library, historians Arthur der Weduwen and Andrew Pettegree introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world\\u2019s 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\\u2014and remakes\\u2014the institution anew.\\n\\n \\n\\nBeautifully written and deeply researched, The Library is essential reading for booklovers, collectors, and anyone who has ever gotten blissfully lost in the stacks.\\n\\n \\n\\nMartin\\u2019s interview with Arthur der Weduwen was recorded on February 15th, 2022.'