
Bibliomania; or Book-Madness (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Bibliographical RomanceBy Thomas Frognall DibdinLength33h 40m
About this audiobook
Bibliomania; or Book-Madness is a witty, erudite anatomy of the collector's fever, cast as a mock-medical and dialogic inquiry into the pursuit of rare books. Dibdin blends satire, antiquarian learning, bibliography, and social comedy, moving from symptoms and "cures" to anecdotes of printers, editions, bindings, auctions, and libraries. Written amid the early nineteenth-century intensification of rare-book collecting, it belongs to the same culture that made typography, incunabula, and provenance matters of fashionable obsession. Thomas Frognall Dibdin was an Anglican clergyman, bibliographer, and one of the most influential mediators of British bibliophilic culture. His connections with aristocratic libraries, especially that of Earl Spencer, and his role in the milieu that produced the Roxburghe Club, gave him intimate knowledge of collectors' passions and absurdities. Bibliomania reflects both his genuine devotion to books and his amused awareness of the vanity, rivalry, and scholarship surrounding them. This volume is recommended to readers interested in book history, collecting, bibliography, and literary satire. It rewards the specialist with abundant historical detail, while offering the general reader a lively portrait of how love of books can become both intellectual vocation and delightful madness.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreOther
Length33 hrs 40 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 26, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5The Bibliomania. (pt. 1)
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6The Bibliomania. (pt. 2)
7POSTSCRIPT.
8PART I. The Evening Walk.
9ON THE RIGHT USES OF LITERATURE.
10The Evening Walk.
11ON THE RIGHT USES OF LITERATURE.
12PART II. The Cabinet.
13OUTLINE OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BIBLIOGRAPHY.
14The Cabinet.
15OUTLINE OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BIBLIOGRAPHY. (pt. 1)
16OUTLINE OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BIBLIOGRAPHY. (pt. 2)
17PART III. The Auction Room.
18CHARACTER OF ORLANDO. OF ANCIENT PRICES OF BOOKS, AND BOOK-BINDING. BOOK-AUCTION BIBLIOMANIACS.
19The Auction Room.
20CHARACTER OF ORLANDO. OF ANCIENT PRICES OF BOOKS, AND BOOK-BINDING. BOOK AUCTION BIBLIOMANIACS.
21PART IV. The Library.
22DR. HENRY’S HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. A GAME AT CHESS.—OF MONACHISM AND CHIVALRY. DINNER AT LORENZO’S. SOME ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS IN ENGLAND.
23The Library.
24DR. HENRY’S HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. A GAME OF CHESS.—OF MONACHISM AND CHIVALRY. DINNER AT LORENZO’S. SOME ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS IN ENGLAND. (pt. 1)
25DR. HENRY’S HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. A GAME OF CHESS.—OF MONACHISM AND CHIVALRY. DINNER AT LORENZO’S. SOME ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS IN ENGLAND. (pt. 2)
26PART V. The Drawing Room.
27HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK COLLECTORS, CONCLUDED.
28The Drawing Room.
29HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, CONTINUED. (pt. 1)
30HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, CONTINUED. (pt. 2)
31HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, CONTINUED. (pt. 3)
32HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, CONTINUED. (pt. 4)
33HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, CONTINUED. (pt. 5)
34HISTORY OF THE BIBLIOMANIA, OR ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, CONTINUED. (pt. 6)
35PART VI. The Alcove.
36SYMPTOMS OF THE BIBLIOMANIA.——PROBABLE MEANS OF ITS CURE.
37The Alcove.
38SYMPTOMS OF THE BIBLIOMANIA.——PROBABLE MEANS OF ITS CURE. (pt. 1)
39SYMPTOMS OF THE BIBLIOMANIA.——PROBABLE MEANS OF ITS CURE. (pt. 2)
40SUPPLEMENT.
41THE SUPPLEMENT. PART I.
42THE EVENING WALK.
43PART II.
44THE CABINET.
45PART III.
46THE AUCTION-ROOM.
47PART IV.
48THE LIBRARY.
49PART V.
50THE DRAWING-ROOM.