 Best Sellers | | Home The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World | |
|  | |  | | | The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World | | | | | SKU:
0810946343 | | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | | | | | All of the libraries in the world-whether small or large, public or private-serve the same purpose: to preserve, cherish, or show off the riches of human knowledge. Now, for the first time, an internationally renowned photographer takes the reader on a journey to more than 20 of the most historic of these magical places, all architectural treasures. From the dramatic, baroque Library of the Institut de France in Paris, to the splendid Vatican Library in Rome; from the majestic Royal Library in El Escorial, Spain, to the famed New York Public Library, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece-here are some of the most exquisite libraries of the Western world. Included are national, scholarly, and religious libraries from 12 countries, which have in common a distinguished heritage and an architectural setting that emphasizes art and culture. The accompanying text traces the history of libraries to the present day, and describes how they came to serve famous personalities and men of letters. Libraries must be counted among civilization's crowning achievements; this elegant book is a fitting tribute to that accomplishment. | | | |
List Price:
| | |
Our Price:
| $31.41 | |
You Save:
| |
| | |
|
| | Product Details | | Author: | Guillaume (photographs); Bosser, Jacques (text); Billington, James H De Laubier | | Hardcover: | 248 pages | | Publisher: | Harry N Abrams Inc | | Publication Date: | 2003 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 0810946343 | | Product Length: | 11.3 inches | | Product Width: | 1.1 inches | | Product Height: | 11.6 inches | | Product Weight: | 0.05 pounds | | Package Length: | 11.65 inches | | Package Width: | 11.26 inches | | Package Height: | 1.1 inches | | Package Weight: | 4.85 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 17 reviews |
| |
| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 17 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
106 of 107 found the following review helpful:
 A Treasure for Bibliophiles and Architecture Lovers Mar 30, 2004
By B. P. Jones
This beautifully photographed book might appear, at first glance, as another "coffee-table book": that is, a book someone gives you as a gift, which thereafter sits on your coffee table unread. That hasn't been my experience. Since receiving it as a Christmas present from my wife, I find myself picking it up every few weeks, reading about how famous book collections were formed, and gazing at the stunning architecture of libraries built as temples to literature (rather than on the how-many-shelves-can-we-cram-into-this-square-footage principle).
There are university libraries (e.g., Oxford, Trinity College Dublin), royal libraries (Vienna, Prague), religious libraries (The Vatican, and several monasteries), and more democratic ones (The New York Public Library). Most of the libraries are European, except for three: New York, The Library of Congress (which is featured on the cover), and the Boston Athenaeum.
There could be more in the text about the contents of these libraries; the emphasis is more on the sheer physical beauty of these places. And beautiful they are, some of them decorated by leading artists.
Some of these libraries are easy to visit; some are accessible only to scholars with appropriate references. Some, like the library of the French Senate (a serene retreat overlooking the Jardin du Luxembourg), are available to a select few. This delightful volume lets us in, for a while. Enjoy.
56 of 58 found the following review helpful:
Happy books with homes like these! Dec 17, 2004
By Michael K. Smith
Speaking as a professional librarian for more than three decades -- someone who upon visiting a city for the first time usually seeks out the main library for a look around -- there are libraries and then there are libraries. Even those in major U.S. cities tend to be utilitarian first (sometimes utilitarian only). Those dating from the 1950s and `60s are generally pretty ugly, as well. For richness and beauty, you have to go overseas to find libraries constructed in an earlier time, when architecture and ornamentation was an end in itself. Except for the small collections kept by monasteries, the library is pretty much an invention of the Renaissance and the Age of Reason. The National Library of Austria, in Vienna, is gorgeously Baroque, with allegorical paintings on the ceilings and narrow staircases concealed behind hidden doors in the stacks. The ever-suspicious Vatican Library still locks its bookcases, filled with bibliographical relics of incalculable value. The Senate Library in Paris is a blend of Neoclassical and Italianate, but it's very much a working library and the old card catalogue has been replaced by computers. I was privileged many years ago to visit the breathtaking library at the Abbey of Saint Gall, home of probably the world's most important collection of surviving incunabula. The curving bookshelves of inlaid wood, the hundreds of carved portraits, arms, and both religious and secular symbols are just incredible. And there's the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the first-ever university collection. And there are more than a dozen others in this beautifully produced volume, of which only three in the United States were deemed worthy of inclusion: the Library of Congress, the New York Public, and the Boston Athenaeum. All of which are practically new buildings compared to the others, but the same principal is at work -- to house knowledge in artistically serene surroundings. Remember the overhead shot of the LC's main Reading Room in *All the President's Men*? That says it all.
41 of 45 found the following review helpful:
Very tastful and satisfying. Feb 09, 2005
By bonsai724
"bonsai724"
When I saw this book in a store I was absolutely thrilled, and I decided that I must have it...yet, I paid about $55 for it. For me, it was a worthy price to pay, but when I found this book on Amazon for so much less, I felt that I had to urge others to take this great offer. It is fair enough to say that everyone would like to have high quality things, yet at times we are unable to do so for one or more reasons. Yet this book is so affordable and it maintains a very high quality. It has thick pages and the pictures inside are dark and rich. Overall, this book has brought me much joy, and I hope it will do the same for you.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
An invaluable book Feb 18, 2007
By R. SA NOGUEIRA SARAIVA
"Rodrigo de Sa"
This is a marvelous book to whoever loves books.
It presents many important historic libraries in the world; each library is presented in informative and sober texts and with accompanying photos. These photos try to capture the overall look of the library (even if this is rather difficult) and several interesting details, sometimes including secondary rooms. The texts focus on the history of the library in question, but also give some information about contents.
There is only a minor quibble, and it cannot be taken too seriously: the authors had to chose and that led them to ignore many marvelous libraries. If there is one I particularly lack, it would be the Real Biblioteca da Universidade de Coimbra (Royal Library of Coimbra University, one of the oldest European Universities). It has been stated to be 'the most beautiful library in the world', and I cannot but agree.
But this is probably a question of personal taste. As it is, the book is wonderful and useful.
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Preservation of libraries Mar 10, 2006
By Swimmer cyn
"Swimmer Cyn"
"The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World"
is kept on the fireplace mantlepiece
in our library for people to come and
view. I liked the book so much I bought
my father it for Valentine's Day. He has
visited many libraries and gone on library
tours in Europe, so the pictures brought
back many memories for him and reminded him
of how our ancestors treasured libraries
and kept the books in good condition.
Anybody who is a library connoisseur will
enjoy this book. As written in the introduction,
"One must spend hours upon hours, and days upon
days in the cocoon of a great library in order
to understand and love the cozy isolation that it
can provide. Some people will never break away
from its spell and remain eternal readers, having
lost the desire to discover the real world. Others
will know how to find lin libraries both knowledge
and its instruments."
Enjoy
Cynthia Nakai
See all 17 customer reviews on Amazon.com
| |
| |
| |  | |  |
|
Recently Viewed | You may also like ... |
