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The Madman's Library
The Greatest Curiosities of Literature
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The Madman's Library
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
A stunning new volume from Edward Brooke-Hitching, revealing some of the strangest books ever written and produced.
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Description
BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK
'Anybody who loves the printed word will be bowled over by this amusing, erudite, beautiful book about books. It is in every way a triumph. One of the loveliest books to have been published for many, many years' β Alexander McCall Smith
'Quite simply the best gift for any book lover this year, or perhaps ever' β Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times Literary Book of the Year
'An utterly joyous journey into the deepest eccentricities of the human mindβ¦ The most cheering, fascinating book Iβve read for ages' β Guardian
From the author of the critically acclaimed and globally successful The Phantom Atlas, The Golden Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a stunning new work. The Madmanβs Library is a unique, beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of literature, delving into its darkest territories to hunt down the very strangest books ever written, and uncover the fascinating stories behind their creation.
This is a madmanβs library of eccentric and extraordinary volumes from around the world, many of which have been completely forgotten. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle, books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscoveredβ¦ and a few others that are just plain weird.
From the 605-page Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, through the gorgeously decorated 15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the lost art of binding books with human skin, every strand of strangeness imaginable (and many inconceivable) has been unearthed and bound together for a unique and richly illustrated collection ideal for every book-lover.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Madman's Library by Edward Brooke-Hitching is a visually stunning and eccentric collection of books through history, praised for its wit and striking illustrations. It's celebrated as a bibliophileβs dream, offering a fascinating exploration of bizarre and unusual literary works, including those bound in human skin and hidden compartments. This captivating tome is described as an ideal gift for book lovers, providing a delightful journey through literary curiosities.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781471166914
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 October 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Illustration: Full Colour Throughout
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 189.0mm
Height: 246.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Edward Brooke-Hitching is the author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling booksΒ TheΒ Phantom Atlas (2016),Β The Golden Atlas (2018),Β The Sky Atlas (2019), The Madman's Library (2020) and The Devil's Atlas (2021), all of which have been translated into numerous languages; he is also the author ofΒ Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports (2015).Β He isΒ a writer for the BBC series QI.Β AΒ fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an incurable cartophile, he lives surrounded by dusty heaps of old maps and books in Berkshire.Β
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Beautiful ... endless, brilliant, unforgettable stories' Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 6* Combining myth and science, this breathtaking book [is] packed with stunning images' Daily Mail After the enormous international success of The Phantom Atlas and The Golden Atlas, Edward Brooke-Hitching's brilliant book unveils some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created during mankind's quest to map the skies...HardbackSold Out -
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