We are thrilled that Profile are publishing The Library Book and that the royalties will go to support our library programmes.
* An all-star lineup of top writers
* Includes original pieces by Julian Barnes, Stephen Fry, Tom Holland, Kate Mosse and many more
* Published for National Libraries Day on 4 February
Twenty-three of our most outstanding writers describe libraries real or imagined, past, present, and future – why they matter and to whom.
From Alan Bennett’s Baffled at a Bookcase, to Lucy Mangan’s Ten Library Rules, famous writers tell us all about how libraries are used and why they’re important. Tom Holland writes about libraries in the ancient world, while Seth Godin describes what a library will look like in 2020. Lionel Shriver thinks books are the best investment, Hardeep Singh Kohli describes his first encounter with a punk and Julie Myerson remembers how her career began beside the shelves. Julian Barnes contributes a previously unseen extract from his novel England, England, and Stephen Fry asks, “have you heard of Oscar Wilde?”
Using memoir, history, polemic, short stories and more, The Library Book celebrates ‘that place where they lend you books for free’ and the people who work there.
Editor Rebecca Gray, who volunteers in her spare time for a mobile library for homeless people, says: “What’s really come through in this project is how libraries liberate people, shape them, allow them to educate themselves. So many people are passionate about libraries – not just for the books, but for the space – and freedom – they provide. I’ve so enjoyed working with The Reading Agency and all these wonderful writers on this book.”
