Now a timeless classic of collecting, no lover of books can miss a gentle madness. Basbanes first book, a gentle madness, is a genredefining work about the culture of book collecting. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books. In a gentle madness 1995 and patience and fortitude 2001, critic basbanes chronicled the history of book collecting and profiled a number of his peers. Gentle madness by nicholas basbanes, first edition abebooks. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books by nicholas a basbanes online at alibris. Richly anecdotal and fully documented, it combines the perspective of historical research with the immediacy of. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. Basbanes has compiled a wonderful gallery of eccentrics, isolatos, charmers and visionaries. With great aplomb, syndicated book columnist basbanes tours his reader through an intriguing gallery of case studies. He is an awardwinning investigative journalist and was literary editor of the worcester sunday telegram.
The passion to possess books has never been more widespread than it is today. Basbanes is the author of ten critically acclaimed works of cultural history, with a particular emphasis on various aspects of books and book culture. The everything of its twothousandyear history, the recipient in 2008 of a national. The author also talked about the writing methods he employed in. His first, a gentle madness, was a finalist for the national book critics circle award in 1995, and was named a new york times notable book of the year. Reading nicholas basbanes lengthy and meandering work, a gentle madness. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books, became a new york times notable book of the year and was a finalist for the national book critics circle award in. Author nicholas basbanes, a dedicated bibliophile himself, begins his book 2,200 years ago in alexandria, when a commitment was made to gather all the worlds knowledge beneath one roof.
Nicholas andrew basbanes born may 25, 1943, in lowell, massachusetts is an american author who writes and lectures widely about authors, books and book culture. Since 1995, it has captured readers imaginations with chronicles of the wellknown bibliophiles and bibliomanes of history. Nicholas basbanes brings an investigative reporters heart to illuminate collectors past and present in their pursuit of bibliomania. In a series of lively chapters, the continuum then passes through the middle ages and the renaissance to the twentieth century with a special emphasis on book. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books nicholas a. Richly anecdotal and fully documented, it combines the perspective of historical research with the immediacy of investigative journalism. A gentle madness is an adventure among the afflicted. Basbanes is the author of eight books, most recently on paper, about various aspects of books and book culture. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books by nicholas basbanes and a great selection of related. Basbanes is an awardwinning investigative journalist, columnist and author of 10 books, including. A gentle madness bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books. A gentle madness bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the.
Nicholas basbanes writes about paper, from its invention in china two thousand years ago to its ideal means, recording the thoughts of islamic scholars and mathematicians that made the middle east a center of intellectual energy. What a delightful book about books and people who love books. In a medieval poem, basbanes notes, bibliophiles were assigned a place of honor on the ship of fools. A gentle madness by nicholas basbanes is a wonderful book.
Basbanes, a selfconfessed bibliophiliac the term roughly translates as someone who loves, loves, really loves books, has made a laterlife career of exploring the worlds of fellow book obsessed souls and in the process has mapped a fascinating, littlediscussed corner of cultural history. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books basbanes, nicholas a. His articles have appeared in the new york times, the washington post, and smithsonian. Basbaness guide to book collecting is a more practical, but no less impassioned, complement to his earlier history of bibliophilia, a gentle madness. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books, and every book its reader.
May 28, 2016 an adventure among the afflicted, a gentle madness is vividly anecdotal and thoroughly researched. His subjects have included the eternal passion for books a gentle madness. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes and the eternal passion for books, published by henry holt and company. Book culture journalist and author nicholas basbanes gave a tour of the vast library in his home in north grafton, massachusetts. As a second generation bibliophile, a possible bibliomane who had several people move out of my house. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books by nicholas a. Now a classic of collecting, a gentle madness is a book lovers delight. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books, his first book, was a finalist for the national book critics circle award for nonfiction in 1995, and. The exhibit will open march 19 at cushing memorial library and archives, and will run until aug.
Japan, where artisans still practice traditional methods. Now a timeless classic of collecting, no lover of books can miss a. Basbanes has 20 books on goodreads with 22442 ratings. A gentle madness bibliophiles bibliomanes and the eternal. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
A gentle madness goodreads meet your next favorite book. Selfproclaimed bibliophile basbanes about the author. Basbanes brings an investigative reporters heart and instincts to the task of chronicling collectors past and present in pursuit of bibliomania. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books make up for aesthetic deficiencies. Fortunately, the people, the history and the very milieu documented in a gentle madness. The characters who populate this book are almost largerthanlife, libraries curator kevin osullivan said. He presents useful tips illustrated with charming anecdotes about the collecting habits of everyone from winston churchill to umberto eco. More information about this seller contact this seller 27. Basbanes and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Basbanes has compiled a wonderful gallery of eccentrics, isolatos, charmers and visionaries an ingratiating and altogether enjoyable book. As the author quickly discovered, paper is more than merely a surface for print. As the subtitle suggests, a book for a narrow and often eccentric audience, with few more eccentric than the author himself. The book focuses on the history of book collecting and preserving over the past 2500 years. An adventure among the afflicted, a gentle madness is vividly anecdotal and thoroughly researched.
It was a national book critics circle award finalist. Basbanes is the author of eight books about various aspects of books and book culture. Oct 15, 20 nicholas basbanes writes about paper, from its invention in china two thousand years ago to its ideal means, recording the thoughts of islamic scholars and mathematicians that made the middle east a center of intellectual energy. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books is much like one of the activities the book celebrates.
Nicholas basbanes spins many tales about the origins of famous libraries, and. Buy a gentle madness by nicholas a basbanes online at alibris. David walton, the philadelphia inquirer nicholas a. A gentle madness by basbanes, nicholas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Michael dirda, the washington post book world a gentle madness is an impressive achievement in its compilation of vast information, as well as being instructive and interesting.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. No one, on the evidence of this book at least, will accuse nicholas basbanes of being a compelling prose stylist. Too much about sales, not enough about scholarship more than any other book in recent years, a gentle madness by nicholas a. The power of the printed word to stir the world, and more on.
Basbanes talked about his recent book, a gentle madness. More information about this seller contact this seller 9. His first, a gentle madness, was a finalist for the national book critics circle award, and was named a new york times notable book of the year. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books is a 1995 book of book collecting case studies by nicholas a. Bibliophiles, bibliomanes and the eternal passion for books by nicholas basbanes and nicholas a. A gentle madness bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal. A gentle madness is vividly anecdotal and thoroughly researched. My rating here is only as to the new smaller paperback version. A gentle madness, finalist for the 1995 national book critics circle award, is an adventure among the afflicted. Patience and fortitude how could any intelligent, literate person not just love. A massive, comprehensive, and wonderfully readable history of book collecting and collectors. Nicholas basbanes is the author of eight books about books and those who collect them, write them, sell them, and care for them.
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