Philobiblon
A Treatise on the Love of Books

Published in 1832, this is the first English translation of Richard de Bury's fourteenth-century treatise on learning and book collecting.

Richard de Bury (Author)

9781108061438, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 August 2013

166 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1 cm, 0.22 kg

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.

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.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]