• One of Manguel's most intimate works
• Don Juan of libraries

In June 2015, Manguel prepared to leave his old country house in the Loire Valley, France, to move into a small apartment in Manhattan. While moving his extensive personal library, deciding which books to keep, store, or discard, Manguel found himself in a deep daydream about the relationships between books and readers, books and collectors, order and chaos, memory and reading. In a personal and poignant reevaluation of his life as a reader, the author illuminates the very personal art of reading, emphasizing the vital role of public libraries. Manguel’s reflections are extensive, spanning from delightful musings on book lovers' traits to in-depth analyses of historical and disastrous book events, including the burning of the ancient Library of Alexandria and the contemporary looting of libraries. With passion and insight, the author stresses the universal centrality of books and their unique importance for a committed, civilized, and democratic society. Alberto Manguel is a widely recognized encyclopedic author, translator, essayist, and novelist. His books have won numerous awards and been bestsellers. His publications by Dar al-Saqi include: 'A History of Reading', 'With Borges', 'The Library at Night', 'The Reading Diaries', 'Curiosity', and in fiction: 'Return' and 'All Men Are Liars'.

Publishing house: Dar al-Saqi for Publishing and Distribution

Number of Pages: 192

Year of publication: 2018