The Enemies Of Books

Every age loves books. Every age harms them.Books are never truly safe.In The Enemies of Books, Victorian bibliographer William Blades delivers an unabridged bibliographical essay that reads like a brisk, witty tour of all that stands between a reader and the printed page. Part book history nonfiction and part manifesto for care, it surveys the everyday threats to books: grime and damp, careless storage, rough handling, misguided repairs, commercial pressures of the 19th century book trade, and the darker forces of censorship and book burning. Blades writes from the heart of Victorian England essays and from deep inside book collecting culture, where affection must be matched by vigilance.First published in the late nineteenth century, this classic among classic bibliophilia essays helped shape modern attitudes to rare book preservation and the history of libraries, anticipating the concerns of conservators and librarians today. It is equally at home on the shelf of dedicated collectors and in the hands of library science students who want a lively, human entry point into how books survive - or vanish. Its clear-eyed humour keeps the lessons personal, not pious, and sends even casual readers back to their own shelves with care.Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. An ideal gift for bibliophiles, and a sharp reminder that protecting the written word is a cultural responsibility.