The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac

Eugene Field (1850 - 1895)

Do you love books? No, I mean REALLY love books? These series of sketches on the delights, adventures, and misadventures connected with bibliomania (bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a genuine book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.). The author wholeheartedly enjoyed this pursuit all his life and his descriptions are delightful to read. Anyone who has lovingly held a book, smelled it, and enjoyed it for being just what it is, will understand what the author puts so well. According to the author, collectors may be grouped in three classes: Those who collect from vanity, those who collect for the benefits of learning and those who collect out of veneration and love for books. Mr. Field fell squarely in the latter category.

(Summary from the preface and Phil Chenevert)

Genre(s): Literary Criticism, Memoirs

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 MY FIRST LOVE David Wales
00:13:35
Play 02 THE BIRTH OF A NEW PASSION David Wales
00:15:47
Play 03 THE LUXURY OF READING IN BED April Gonzales
00:11:55
Play 04 THE MANIA OF COLLECTING SEIZES ME David Wales
00:14:40
Play 05 BALDNESS AND INTELLECTUALITY Adam
00:16:23
Play 06 MY ROMANCE WITH FIAMMETTA David Wales
00:13:04
Play 07 THE DELIGHTS OF FENDER-FISHING David Wales
00:15:02
Play 08 BALLADS AND THEIR MAKERS David Wales
00:14:07
Play 09 BOOKSELLERS AND PRINTERS, OLD AND NEW David Wales
00:16:25
Play 10 WHEN FANCHONETTE BEWITCHED ME asterix
00:13:55
Play 11 DIAGNOSIS OF THE BACILLUS LIBRORUM Availle
00:14:07
Play 12 THE PLEASURES OF EXTRA-ILLUSTRATION David Wales
00:13:28
Play 13 ON THE ODORS WHICH MY BOOKS EXHALE Crln Yldz Ksr
00:13:12
Play 14 ELZEVIRS AND DIVERS OTHER MATTERS David Wales
00:14:56
Play 15 A BOOK THAT BRINGS SOLACE AND CHEER David Wales
00:15:10
Play 16 THE MALADY CALLED CATALOGITIS David Wales
00:14:49
Play 17 THE NAPOLEONIC RENAISSANCE Petra
00:12:03
Play 18 MY WORKSHOP AND OTHERS Leonard Wilson (1930-2024)
00:16:36
Play 19 OUR DEBT TO MONKISH MEN David Wales
00:15:25