A Wolfson History Prize Finalist
A New Statesman Book of the Year
A Sunday Times Book of the Year

"Timely and authoritative... I enjoyed it immensely."
-- Philip Pullman

"If you care about books, and if you believe we must all stand up to the destruction of knowledge and cultural heritage, this is a brilliant read -- both powerful and prescient."
-- Elif Shafak

Libraries have been attacked since ancient times but they have been especially threatened in the modern era, through war as well as willful neglect. Burning the Books describes the deliberate destruction of the knowledge safeguarded in libraries from Alexandria to Sarajevo, from smashed Assyrian tablets to the torching of the Library of Congress. The director of the world-famous Bodleian Libraries, Richard Ovenden, captures the political, religious, and cultural motivations behind these acts. He also shines a light on the librarians and archivists preserving history and memory, often risking their lives in the process.

More than simply repositories for knowledge, libraries support the rule of law and inspire and inform citizens. Ovenden reminds us of their social and political importance, challenging us to protect and support these essential institutions.

"Wonderful... full of good stories and burning with passion."
-- Sunday Times

"The sound of a warning vibrates through this book."
-- The Guardian

"Essential reading for anyone concerned with libraries and what Ovenden outlines as their role in 'the support of democracy, the rule of law and open society.'"
-- Wall Street Journal

"Ovenden emphasizes that attacks on books, archives, and recorded information are the usual practice of authoritarian regimes."
-- Michael Dirda, Washington Post

• We started tracking this book on November 17, 2020.
• This book was $28.45 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 13 times in the past 1,900 days.
• The current price of this book is $9.99 last checked 9 hours ago.
• This book is at its lowest price in the past 90 days.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $9.15.
• The lowest price to date was $9.15 last reached on April 20, 2022.
• This book has been $9.15 one time since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $28.45 last reached on January 21, 2021.
• This book has been $28.45 2 times since we started tracking it.

• Politics & Social SciencesPolitics & GovernmentSpecific TopicsCensorship
• Politics & Social SciencesSocial SciencesLibrary & Information Science
• Literature & FictionLiterary CriticismBooks & Reading
• FranceCensorship

• Publication Date: November 17, 2020
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 321 Pages
• File Size: 66 KB