Andrew Lang’s The Library is a witty guide for book lovers that explores the pleasures of book hunting, the formation of a personal collection, and the practical care of a home library. Lang treats the search for rare books, first editions, early printed volumes, and illustrated works as an adventure requiring patience and judgment, while defending collecting as an enjoyable pursuit that brings readers closer to literature and history. He also discusses bookcases, bindings, damp, dust, insects, careless readers, borrowers, and other threats to books, combining humorous observation with practical advice on preserving a treasured collection. Completed by Austin Dobson’s chapter on modern English illustrated books, the work warmly portrays books as enduring companions and as objects that preserve beauty, memory, and personal affection.
