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The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History — Occult Philosophy

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The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History

Name: The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History
Price: 35.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781797207308

✍️ Brooke-Hitching, Edward

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Step into a meticulously curated collection of the world's most peculiar and obscure books, manuscripts, and literary artifacts. This enthralling journey unearths the fascinating narratives behind volumes that defy convention—from texts penned in blood or crafted to summon entities, to books designed for wear or even consumption. Brooke-Hitching meticulously chronicles these strange creations, revealing the often-unhinged genius, dark intent, or sheer imaginative force that brought them into being, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the fringes of human creativity throughout history.

Brooke-Hitching, Edward

📚 all books by this author (6) →

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“The Madman's Library, bursting at the seams, is really rather wonderful.”

— The Spectator (UK)

🏛 Chronicle Books 📅 2021 📖 256 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781797207308

Fun Fact

Edward Brooke-Hitching has crafted a truly captivating compendium for anyone drawn to the fringes of the literary world. This volume excels at unearthing astonishing, often unsettling, stories behind history's most peculiar books, making it an ideal gift for the morbidly curious or bibliophile seeking the unconventional. While not a deep academic treatise, its rich array of bizarre tales and striking visuals will enthrall. A standout work in the realm of esoteric curiosities.

📝 Description: The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History

This fascinating and bizarre collection compiles the most unusual, obscure books from the far reaches of the human imagination throughout history. From the author of the critically acclaimed bestsellers The Phantom Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a unique and beautifully illustrated journey through the history of literature. The Madman's Library delves into its darkest territories to hunt down the oddest books and manuscripts ever written, uncovering the intriguing stories behind their creation. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle and books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered. Spell books, alchemist scrolls, wearable books, edible books, books to summon demons, books written by ghosts, and more all come together in the most curiously strange library imaginable. From the Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, to the gorgeously decorated fifteenth-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the most enormous book ever created, The Madman's Library features many long-forgotten, eccentric, and extraordinary volumes gathered from around the world and features hundreds of remarkable images and entertaining facts and stories to discover. MUST-HAVE FOR BOOKLOVERS: Anyone who appreciates a good read will love delving into this weird world of books and adding this collection to their own bookshelf.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This title offers a visually rich and narratively enthralling tour of literary curiosities, praised for its meticulous curation and Edward Brooke-Hitching’s distinctive illustrations. However, it may not suit readers seeking rigorous academic analysis or those who prefer traditional, straightforward historical accounts without the element of sensationalism. Those looking for deep theological or philosophical discourse within the occult will likely find the focus on physical oddities and bizarre contexts lacking in substantive depth. It is best appreciated as a visual and narrative spectacle rather than a scholarly text.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who delight in the macabre, the eccentric, and the visually stunning will find immense joy in this volume. It is perfect for those who enjoy peeling back the layers of history to reveal its strange underbelly, offering a warm invitation to explore texts penned in blood or designed for consumption. If you appreciate the intersection of art, literature, and the occult, this book serves as a captivating guide to the unhinged genius and dark intent that have shaped some of history's most peculiar artifacts. It is an engaging journey for anyone seeking to understand the sheer imaginative force behind literary oddities.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are captivated by the arcane, the bizarre, and the untold stories behind history's most unusual objects, then this compendium is for you. Ideal for bibliophiles, collectors of curiosities, and anyone with a taste for the wonderfully strange.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This title offers a visually rich and narratively enthralling tour of literary curiosities, praised for its meticulous curation and Edward Brooke-Hitching’s distinctive illustrations. However, it may not suit readers seeking rigorous academic analysis or those who prefer traditional, straightforward historical accounts without the element of sensationalism. Those looking for deep theological or philosophical discourse within the occult will likely find the focus on physical oddities and bizarre contexts lacking in substantive depth. It is best appreciated as a visual and narrative spectacle rather than a scholarly text.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Yes, Brooke-Hitching meticulously researches and presents genuine historical accounts and examples of these extraordinary literary curiosities, often detailing their origins and fates.

Far from a simple list, this book richly narrates the intriguing, often bizarre, stories of creation, ownership, and the peculiar impact each unique volume had on its time.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Literary Anomalies Unveiled

Explore a vast array of books that break all traditional molds, challenging our perceptions of what a 'book' can be. This work meticulously documents everything from microscopic to gargantuan tomes, showcasing the astonishing diversity and often unsettling nature of the written word across various cultures and eras, often with surprising backstories.

Forbidden Knowledge & Power

Delve into the shadowy world of books imbued with mystical or dangerous properties. Discover spell books, alchemical treatises, and texts reportedly used for malefic purposes. The book illuminates how certain volumes were believed to hold immense power, capable of influencing events, summoning spirits, or even inflicting harm, blurring lines between legend and reality.

Boundless Human Imagination

Witness the extremes of human ingenuity and obsession channeled into book-making. From volumes crafted by the insane to elaborate hoaxes that captivated the globe, this collection highlights humanity's relentless drive to create, innovate, and sometimes deceive through the medium of the written word, often pushing boundaries of sanity.

📜 Historical context

This work stands within a long tradition of documenting human eccentricity and the 'cabinet of curiosities' approach to knowledge. It meticulously traces how books, beyond their function as information carriers, have served as potent artifacts, artistic expressions, and vessels of both profound wisdom and utter madness across centuries, reflecting changing cultural values.

📚 Glossary

Curiosity
Manuscript
Alchemist Scroll

📔 Questions to reflect on

If you could possess one 'mad' book from history, what would it be and why? What secrets would you hope to uncover?
Consider the power attributed to certain books—to kill, to summon, to curse. How does this influence our perception of literature beyond mere information?
This book explores the extremes of human creativity and obsession in book-making. What personal project have you pursued with such intensity, regardless of its perceived 'sanity'?