Philobiblon : a treatise on the love of books
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Philobiblon : a treatise on the love of books
（Cambridge library collection）
Cambridge University Press, 2013
- : pbk
Available at 1 libraries
Note
Reprint. Originally published: London : Printed for Thomas Rodd, 1832
"This edition first published 1832"--T.p. verso
"This digitally printed version 2013"--T.p. verso
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Distinguished above all for his zeal for learning, Richard de Bury (1287-1345) was an influential figure during the reign of Edward III, becoming bishop of Durham and serving on several diplomatic missions abroad, during which time he accumulated many rare works. The Philobiblon is his passionate treatise on learning and book collecting. Lodging a complaint in the voice of books themselves, Richard expresses his frank views on the current state of learning and scholarly practice. This translation, the first such into English, was prepared anonymously in 1832 by the scholar and linguist John Bellingham Inglis (1780-1870). Unlike other book collectors, Inglis was noted for actually having read the books he acquired. The present work contains a brief preface discussing previous scholarship and editions of the text, and ends with extensive notes by Inglis on the original text and his editorial decisions.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Prologue
- 1. On the commendation of wisdom
- 2. Showeth that books are to be preferred to riches
- 3. Books ought always to be bought
- 4. How much good arises from books
- 5. Good professors of religion buy books
- 6. In praise of the ancient, and reprehension of the modern religious mendicants
- 7. Deploring the destruction of books by wars and fire
- 8. Of the numerous opportunities of the author of collecting books from all quarters
- 9. The ancient students surpassed the modern in fervency of learning
- 10. Science grew to perfection by degrees
- 11. Laws are, properly speaking, neither sciences nor books
- 12. Of the utility and necessity of grammar
- 13. A vindication of poetry, and its utility
- 14. Of those who ought particularly to love books
- 15. Of the manifold effect of the sciences which are contained in books
- 16. Of writing new books and repairing old ones
- 17. Of handling books in a cleanly manner, and keeping them in order
- 18. The author against detractors
- 19. A provident arrangement by which books may be lent to strangers
- 20. The author desires to be prayed for, and notably teaches students to pray
- Notes.
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