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

Historia universal de la destrucción de libros. English

1934633011
9781934633014

New York : Atlas & Co. : Distributed to the trade by W.W. Norton, 2008.

English

Translated from the Spanish.

xii, 354 p., [12] p. of plates : ill., map ; 19 cm.

Z659 .B3413 2008

098.109
027.009 22

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, Báez 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.

"Orignally published as Historia universal de la destrucción de libros: De las tablillas sumericas a la Guerra de Irak, Ediciones Destinos, S.A., Barcelona, 2004"--T.p. verso.

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

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