BaÌez, Fernando,  1970- <br/><br/>
A universal history of the destruction of books :  from ancient Sumer to modern Iraq / 
Fernando BaÌez ; translated from the Spanish by Alfred MacAdam. 
 - New York :  Atlas & Co. :  Distributed to the trade by W.W. Norton,  c2008. 
 - xii, 354 p., [12] p. of plates :  ill., map ;  19 cm. 
<br/><br/> Originally published: Barcelona : Ediciones Destino, 2004, under title: Historia universal de la destruccioÌn de libros: de las tablillas sumerias a la Guerra de Irak. 
<br/><br/>Includes bibliographical references (p. [283]-336) and index. 
<br/><br/> 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. 
<br/><br/><br/>Translated from the Spanish. 
<br/><br/><label>ISBN: </label>1934633011 9781934633014 
<br/><br/><label>LCCN: </label>2008932321 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>Libraries--Destruction and pillage--History.<br/>Censorship--History.<br/>Libraries and state--History.<br/>Prohibited books--History.<br/>Kleitabletten.<br/>Handschriften.<br/>Boeken.<br/>Bibliotheken.
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Geographic Terms: </label><br/>Irak.
<br/><br/><label>LC Class. No.: </label>Z659  / .B3413 2008 
<br/><br/><label>Dewey Class. No.: </label>098.109