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A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World

nicholas a. basbanes

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In A Splendor of Letters , Nicholas A. Basbanes continues the lively, richly anecdotal exploration of book people, places, and culture he began in 1995 with A Gentle Madness (a finalist that year for the National Book Critics Circle Award) and expanded in 2001 with Patience & Fortitude , a companion work that prompted the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer David McCullough to proclaim him "the leading authority of books about books." In this beautifully packaged edition, Basbanes brings to a close his wonderful trilogy on the remarkable world of books and bibliophiles.

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,2003

This edition

Format
464 pages, Paperback
Published
November 2, 2004 by Harper Perennial
ISBN
9780060580803
ASIN
0060580801
Language
English

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nicholas a. basbanes

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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 29 votes)
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29 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
erieh
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Excellent anecdotes concerning the preservation of information through the ages have been presented.

These anecdotes offer valuable insights into how information has been safeguarded and passed down over time.

However, my complaint is that the author has a tendency to write dense prose.

The text lacks natural breaks, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow.

One topic seems to directly lead into another without any clear separation or transition.

This can cause confusion and make it challenging for the reader to fully understand and absorb the content.

It would be beneficial if the author could consider adding more paragraph breaks and using transitional phrases to improve the flow and readability of the text.

By doing so, the reader would be able to better engage with the anecdotes and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of information preservation throughout history.
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MushiOtaku
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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An absolutely fabulous book! It has truly opened my eyes to a disturbing world. A world where there are those who attempt to kill a civilization by callously trying to erase history, literature, and cultural memory. It's a terrifying thought.


The book is filled with numerous stories that vividly illustrate the permanence of words. Even when the physical book is burned or the monument is shattered, those words remain imprinted on a brain. They have a power that cannot be easily extinguished.


These stories are very apropos for today. In our modern age, we are constantly bombarded with information and faced with various challenges that can sometimes make us forget the importance of our history and cultural heritage. This book serves as a timely reminder that we must safeguard and cherish these precious aspects of our civilization. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of our world.

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Kaminari-Pein
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Love this kind of book!

I truly have a deep affection for this type of book. It has the power to transport me to different worlds, to make me feel a wide range of emotions. The words on the pages seem to come alive, painting vivid pictures in my mind. Whether it's a thrilling adventure, a heartwarming romance, or a thought-provoking mystery, this kind of book always manages to capture my attention and keep me engaged from start to finish. I find myself getting lost in the story, forgetting about the outside world for a while. It's like a magical escape that I look forward to whenever I pick up one of these books. I love the way it makes me think, feel, and imagine. It enriches my life and broadens my horizons. This kind of book is truly a treasure that I will always cherish.
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SThreee3
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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You step into a used book shop.

Pull a book off the shelf. You are attracted to this book perhaps due to the color of the cover, the unique printing, or the appealing dustjacket.

You start looking for information about the author. Search for the date of publication. Wonder who owned this book before. Will the book be a truly enjoyable read? Is the book of value to you or to others? Is it worth the price?

If you take the book home and keep it until you die, what will happen to the book then? What about all the rest of your books in your personal library? What becomes of the discarded books in libraries?

Books indeed have a life, sometimes an extremely long lifespan. They also have their enemies.

Books bear witness to culture, ideas, history, and the hopes for the future across generations and languages. The written word can be cherished, or it may be regarded as a threat that must be eradicated.

The Splendor of Letters leads us through the life cycle and the joys and challenges of books and the written word. Basbanes interviews book collectors, book sellers, and librarians.

He reports on the destruction of libraries and books. He celebrates the miraculous and mysterious long life of books. He introduces us to magnificent private libraries and their owners.

Some of these stories are disturbing. Two that made me stop and think were about books that were donated to institutions to be preserved for research forever.

The institutions faced financial difficulties. Those in charge started to sell off the books because of their financial worth. The institutional leaders betrayed the trust of their donors. What was meant to be a gift to the public ended up in private hands.

This book was published in 2003. In the final chapter, Basbanes reports on the increasing desire to digitize books.

Even before the arrival of the Kindle and iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010, there was a vocal group advocating the end of the physical codex. While understanding the argument, Basbanes does not anticipate the physical book disappearing anytime soon, if at all.

I learned a great deal from The Splendor of Letters about books and the personalities that make the book world so fascinating. The notes and the bibliography are a pleasure to read.

Basbanes is an experienced journalist and he knows how to tell a great story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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MrMeruem
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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As it stands, the book appears to be a collection of random ramblings on a particular theme. It lacks the necessary coherence, much like a shuffled deck of cards where the order seems haphazard and makes it difficult to follow a clear narrative.

However, there is one vignette within the book that stands out. It is the account of the burning and subsequent rebuilding of libraries. This vignette offers a glimmer of hope and perhaps a deeper meaning within the otherwise disjointed text.

The description of the libraries being consumed by fire can be a powerful and poignant image, symbolizing the destruction of knowledge and history. But the act of rebuilding them shows the resilience and determination of humanity to preserve and pass on that which is important.

Overall, while the book may have its flaws in terms of coherence, this particular vignette adds an interesting and thought-provoking element that makes it worth considering further.
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Marifrit
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Because I am a bibliophile who is deeply interested in books not only as cultural objects per se, but also as valuable sources of edification.

I truly cannot express enough praise for this book, along with the two that came before it, A Gentle Madness and Patience and Fortitude.

Nicholas Basbanes is undoubtedly the finest contemporary writer of books on books that I have ever come across. (If you take a look at my "Books on Books" shelf, you will notice that I have read a considerable amount of such works.)

This particular piece is among his very best. It is extremely highly recommended.

His writing style is engaging and captivating, drawing the reader in and making them eager to explore the world of books through his eyes.

The research and knowledge he brings to the table are truly remarkable, making each page a treasure trove of information and insights.

Whether you are a fellow bibliophile or simply someone with an interest in the world of literature, this book is a must-read.
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MaxXZoe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A book about books? That's an absolute gem! As soon as I heard about it, I was completely hooked.

This remarkable volume offers a plethora of great insights and captivating stories that draw you in from the very first page.

It delves deep into the world of literature, exploring the thoughts and experiences of various authors, the evolution of different literary genres, and the profound impact that books have had on our lives.

With each turn of the page, you'll discover new perspectives and gain a deeper appreciation for the power and beauty of the written word.

Whether you're a die-hard book lover or simply someone who enjoys a good read, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

So, don't hesitate to pick it up and embark on this wonderful literary journey. You won't be disappointed!
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TheCoolGuy82
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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There is nothing more poignant and mysterious than talk of lost books and lost libraries.

This book is filled with vivid descriptions of books and libraries that we are now only aware of but no longer possess. Nicholas Basbanes does an excellent job of detailing the numerous ways in which books and libraries have been lost to humanity. These include natural disasters, political strife, diabolical maliciousness, limited shelf space, and insidious negligence.

Mr. Basbanes also describes the serendipity associated with the continued existence of some ancient records. His discussion of palimpsests is truly fascinating. I was completely enthralled with most of this book. However, I must admit that I was less interested in the closing chapters that discuss the future of the book, or rather the ebook. Nevertheless, I did enjoy his description of various modern efforts to preserve books.

Surprisingly, when discussing record preservation efforts, he omitted any mention of the vast holdings of the Mormon Church. These are safeguarded in the Granite Mountain Records Vault in the mountains near Salt Lake City. The church has also made efforts to offer digital copies of its holdings to the public on familysearch.org. The vault preserves almost 2.4 million microfilms and nearly 1 million microfiche that have been acquired over the decades. This represents more than 3 billion pages of family history records, making it the largest collection of its kind in the world.

I've read on ancestry.com that the Granite Mountain Records Vault is currently processing tens of thousands of microfilm masters owned by the National Archives. This includes federal census and immigration records. The project is remastering the original acetate-based microfilms, creating new polyester-based replacements for the National Archives, and extending the longevity of the federal government’s records collection. See http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library...
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