Matthew Battles Bücher

Matthew Battles sucht nach jenen Momenten, in denen Leser, Schriftsteller und Bibliothekare nach der eigentlichen Bedeutung der Bibliothek fragen. Er berichtet von den entscheidenden Wendepunkten in der über dreitausendjährigen wechselhaften Geschichte des Büchersammelns. Eine Zeitreise durch Paläste und Ruinen des Wissens – von der Bibliothek in Alexandria über Klosterzellen bis zur British Library, von Privatbibliotheken und sozialistischen Lesesälen bis ins Informationszeitalter, in dem Bibliotheken bedroht zu sein scheinen. Ein Muss für jeden Bücherfreund!

"Bacteria inimical to plant growth spread around the world, causing a blight, Jack Flint is invited to become director of operations at Nordernholt's survivalist colony in England's Clyde Valley"-- Provided by publisher

Through the ages, libraries have not only accumulated and preserved, but shaped, inspired and obliterated knowledge.

Part One: Feral Trees The Tree of Heaven In a Dappled World A branching Heuristic Part Two: Garden and Fores t In the Tree Museum From Ailanthus to Apple The Charter of the Forests Part Three: A Dark Abundance The Tree and/in History With and Without Us Notes Index

"Why does writing exist? What does it mean to those who write? Born from the interplay of natural and cultural history, the seemingly magical act of writing has continually expanded our consciousness. Portrayed in mythology as either a gift from heroes or a curse from the gods, it has been used as both an instrument of power and a channel of the divine; a means of social bonding and of individual self-definition. Now, as the revolution once wrought by the printed word gives way to the digital age, many fear that the art of writing, and the nuanced thinking nurtured by writing, are under threat. But writing itself, despite striving for permanence, is always in the midst of growth and transfiguration."--From the publisher.

Matthew Battles crafts immersive worlds filled with chaotic energy and surreal imagery, where characters struggle to grasp fleeting realities amidst a whirlwind of ideas. His narratives feature bizarre elements, such as dogs in trees and demolition men with sacred relics, creating a vivid tapestry of thought and sensation. The landscapes resonate with a sense of urgency, as concepts outpace memory, leaving behind a dreamlike atmosphere rich with enigmatic symbols and haunting silence.