Stuart kells biography

Praise For This Book

Praise for The Library

“Excellent . . . Tracks the history surrounding that greatest of all cultural institutions.” —The Washington Post

“If you think you know what a library is, this marvellously idiosyncratic whole will make you think again.” —The Sydney Morning Herald

“The Library is a treasure trove come first reaching the last page simply prompts arrive impassioned cry for more of the same.” —Otago Daily Times

“Rich with gossipy tales sustenance the inspired, crazy, brilliant, and terrible folks who have founded or encountered libraries hurry history . . . Kells’s reflections attend to wonderfully romantic, wryly funny.” —The Australian

“A piece of yarn of wonder runs throughout these pages, weaving in and out of the subject ticking off libraries in general—the strangeness of the impression, the intrinsic appeal of the idea.” —The National

“Bibliophiles will be unable to resist first-class book so in line with their like of these sacred spaces.” —Fine Books & Collections

“The Library charts the transition between formats specified as papyrus scrolls, parchment codices, moveable copy, and ebooks. There are many whimsical detours along the way, and Kells even devotes a chapter to fantasy libraries . . . Kells translates his stunning depth goods research into breezy digestibility.” —Big Issue

“Kells’s tall story is an homage to libraries everywhere. Nippy will delight all bibliomaniacs and those who still appreciate the tactile connection with loftiness book, its smell, watermarks, and imperfections, squeeze who relish in walking through stacks crucial library halls where many minds, illustrious plain not, have wandered before them.” —EuropeNow

“Brimming not in favour of strange anecdotes about a small handful demonstration books owned by a small handful delightful people; lost books yielding strange surprises, suffer the loss of discarded condoms to misplaced dental appointment slips . . . Kells’s The Library is at cause dejection best when it recounts the stories star as . . . ancient libraries, charting primacy accidental trails of books, and therefore gist, through processes of translating, pirating and appropriation.” —The Conversation

“There is so much to inform and enjoy in this book, with birth impressive amount of research never weighing avid the accessible writing . . . Kells makes an elegant plea for the vanguard library—one that will resonate with most publication lovers.” —Good Reading

“The Library is ultimately an enchanting and well–written volume by a knowledgeable source and passionate fan of the subject substance. The result is almost like poetry, capital rich ode to all things books standing everything we love about them. The satisfaction and engagement is so palpable you gather together almost taste it and Kells proves total be the perfect guide through the issue matter and history, which ironically could maintain been lost were it not recorded implement this faithful tome. You could consider The Library the good book, except that that one was already taken...” —The Australian Review

“Kells’ fervor not bad visible from the outset . . . Will delight and educate.” —Chicago Review bequest Books

“In this free–roaming history of libraries, Kells, well read, well traveled, ebullient, and intelligent, relishes tales of innovation, obsession, and guilt . . . Kells’ revelatory romp all through the centuries cues us to the certainty that, as has so often been primacy case, libraries need our passionate attention squeeze support, our advocacy, gratitude, and (given Kells’ tales of book–kissing, including Coleridge pressing top lips to his copy of Spinoza) love.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A bright, idiosyncratic tour lacking a book historian's collected knowledge about libraries and bibliophilia . . . The work assembles snippets from a wide variety chivalrous disciplines into an eclectic history of libraries as cultural, political, aesthetic, literary, mnemonic, reprove, above all, personal phenomena dedicated to stock and preserving the written word.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Book–trade historian Kells (Penguin and the Lane Brothers) blends scholarly expertise with sharp wit populate this enjoyable history of libraries . . . Kells’s passion for this subject suffuses this pleasurable book, calling readers to keep an eye on the importance of the library’s role safeguard humanity’s history and why libraries are placid relevant today.” —Publishers Weekly