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A universal history of the destruction of books : from ancient Sumer to modern Iraq / Fernando BaÌez ; translated from the Spanish by Alfred MacAdam.

By: Contributor(s): Language: English Original language: Spanish Publication details: New York : Atlas & Co. : Distributed to the trade by W.W. Norton, c2008.Description: xii, 354 p., [12] p. of plates : ill., map ; 19 cmISBN:
  • 1934633011
  • 9781934633014
Uniform titles:
  • Historia universal de la destruccioÌn de libros. English
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 098.109 22
LOC classification:
  • Z659 .B3413 2008
Other classification:
  • 06.21
Summary: A product of ten years of research and support from leading American and European universities, A Universal History of the Destruction of Books traces a tragic story: the smashed tablets of ancient Sumer, the widespread looting of libraries in post-war Iraq, the leveling of the Library of Alexandria, book burnings by Crusaders and Nazis, and censorship against authors past and present. With diligence and grace, BaÌez mounts a compelling investigation into the motives behind the destruction of books, reading man's violence against writing as a perverse anti-creation. His findings ultimately attest to the lasting power of books as the great human repository of knowledge and memory, fragile yet vital bulwarks against the intransigence and barbarity of every age.--From publisher description.

Originally published: Barcelona : Ediciones Destino, 2004, under title: Historia universal de la destruccioÌn de libros: de las tablillas sumerias a la Guerra de Irak.

A product of ten years of research and support from leading American and European universities, A Universal History of the Destruction of Books traces a tragic story: the smashed tablets of ancient Sumer, the widespread looting of libraries in post-war Iraq, the leveling of the Library of Alexandria, book burnings by Crusaders and Nazis, and censorship against authors past and present. With diligence and grace, BaÌez mounts a compelling investigation into the motives behind the destruction of books, reading man's violence against writing as a perverse anti-creation. His findings ultimately attest to the lasting power of books as the great human repository of knowledge and memory, fragile yet vital bulwarks against the intransigence and barbarity of every age.--From publisher description.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [283]-336) and index.

Translated from the Spanish.

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